What is the difference between refund accepted and approved?

Asked by: Felicia Pollich  |  Last update: May 7, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (23 votes)

Accepted means your tax return has passed a verification that reviews your basic information. This typically involves social security information for the taxpayer and dependents and more. It does not mean your return is approved. Continue to watch the status of your return for additional information.

How long does it take for your refund to go from accepted to approved?

IRS approval: The IRS works to review and approve refunds quickly and efficiently. In fact, historically, more than 9 out of 10 refunds are processed and approved within 21 days of e-file acceptance.

Why has my refund been accepted but not approved?

Yes, your tax refund can be rejected after it has been initially accepted. Here are some reasons why this might happen: Errors in Your Return: If the IRS discovers errors or discrepancies in your tax return after acceptance, they may adjust your refund or even reject it.

Can a refund be rejected after being accepted?

The return was already accepted – The IRS will reject your return if they previously accepted a return with your Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN). If this happens, it could be a sign of fraud or identity theft.

What comes after refund approved?

Once your refund is processed, if you are expecting a direct deposit, it should be issued shortly thereafter—often within 5 days. If a paper check is being mailed, it may take a week or more depending on postal delivery times.

Does accepted mean my refund is approved?

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How long after refund is approved will it be deposited?

If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date IRS receives your return. If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit.

Will I get my refund if it says approved?

Refund Approved – We approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown. Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take 5 days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

Can your refund be flagged after being accepted?

Key Takeaways. Your tax returns can be audited even after you've been issued a refund. Only a small percentage of U.S. taxpayers' returns are audited each year. The IRS can audit returns for up to three prior tax years and, in some cases, go back even further.

Is it good if my return is accepted?

by TurboTax• 132• Updated 2 weeks ago

Accepted means your tax return was received and has passed initial inspection, such as correct Social Security number and correctly claimed dependents. It can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks for your return to go from acceptance to approval.

Can your refund amount change after being accepted?

If we made any changes to your tax return, your refund amount may change. You'll receive a letter in the mail (Notice of Tax Return Change ) with the details of the changes and the updated refund amount. Common changes include: Withholding or payments don't match our records.

What is the difference between refund being accepted and approved?

Accepted means your tax return has passed a verification that reviews your basic information. This typically involves social security information for the taxpayer and dependents and more. It does not mean your return is approved. Continue to watch the status of your return for additional information.

How do I know if my tax return has been flagged?

If the IRS decides that your return merits a second glance, you'll be issued a CP05 Notice. This notice lets you know that your return is being reviewed to verify any or all of the following: Your income. Your tax withholding.

What day of the week are tax returns deposited?

Day of the week for IRS refund deposits

The IRS typically processes tax refunds and executes direct deposit transactions within 21 days after accepting your tax return. It's common for the IRS to issue them on business days, from Monday through Friday.

How to know if a tax return is approved?

Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It's available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.

How long after IRS verification will I get my refund?

What happens after I successfully verify? We'll process your tax return. It may take up to 9 weeks to receive your refund or credit any overpayment to your account. However, if we find other problems, we'll contact you again and this may delay your refund.

What time of day does IRS update refund status?

- It's updated every 24 hours - usually overnight -- so you only need to check once a day. There's no need to call IRS unless Where's My Refund? tells you to do so. It's Easy!

Can your refund be denied if accepted?

Once your return is accepted by the IRS, it can't be rejected. If anything, they may send a letter or notice requesting additional support if needed.

Can I fix my return after it's been accepted?

If you need to make a change or adjustment on a return already filed, you can file an amended return. Use Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and follow the instructions.

What comes after refund accepted?

Once your return has been “accepted,” its status will remain the same until it's been “approved.” This indicates it's been processed and that the IRS has approved the release of your refund.

What raises red flags with the IRS?

Another easily avoidable audit red flag is rounding or estimating dollar amounts on your tax return. Say, for instance, you round $403 of tip income to $400, $847 of student loan interest to $850, and $97 of medical expenses to $100. The IRS is going to see all those nice round numbers and think you're making them up.

How will I know if my refund was rejected?

It will generally mail you a notice if there is a problem with your return. An IRS agent may call you or visit your home, but usually only after sending several letters first. When an e-filed return gets rejected, the IRS will often let you know within a few hours.

How long after approval do you get refund?

If you e-filed your return and chose direct deposit to receive your refund, you'll usually receive your refund in 8-15 days. However, you should allow an extra 1-5 business days for your bank to process the funds. If you chose the Refund Transfer option, the refund will come from the Axos Bank®, not the IRS.

Why was my refund approved but not sent?

An incomplete return, an inaccurate return, an amended return, tax fraud, claiming tax credits, owing certain debts for which the government can take part or all of your refund, and sending your refund to the wrong bank due to an incorrect routing number are all reasons that a tax refund can be delayed.