Your refund is pending because it's waiting for approval, often due to errors, identity verification needs, or extra review for credits (like EITC/ACTC), but can also be from filing too early or issues like math mistakes, fraud, or existing tax debts; the IRS needs time to process these flagged returns, sometimes contacting you for more info.
A tax refund could be delayed weeks or even months in some cases. The length of the delay may depend on how backed up the IRS is on processing tax returns, whether you turn around requested documentation quickly, and whether you need to file an amended return.
Pending simply means that your e-filed return is on its way and that the government hasn't accepted or rejected it yet. Until they accept or reject it, they won't have any record of it.
The IRS generally issues refunds within 21 days of e-filing, but paper-filed returns can take 6 to 8 weeks. You can check your IRS refund status using the IRS “Where's My Refund?” tool, H&R Block's refund tracker, or by calling the IRS refund hotline.
You generally shouldn't worry if your refund is "still being processed," as it means the IRS is working on it, but it might take longer than the typical 21 days due to common issues like errors, incomplete information, or claiming credits like the EITC/ACTC. Worry only becomes necessary if you receive an IRS letter requesting more information or if the "Where's My Refund?" tool shows a specific problem like fraud, but typically, it just means a longer wait, not no refund at all.
If the IRS decides that your return merits a second glance, you'll be issued a CP05 Notice 1 . This notice lets you know that your return is being reviewed to verify any or all of the following: Your income. Your tax withholding.
Usually, it takes 4-5 weeks for the refund to be credited to the account of the taxpayer. However, if refund is not received during this duration, the taxpayer must check for intimation regarding discrepancies in ITR; check email for any notification from the IT department regarding the refund.
What causes an IRS refund delay?
Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059).
When your HMRC tax refund is pending, it simply means they're reviewing your claim before approving any payment. This status usually pops up in your HMRC online account or in a letter they've sent you. At this stage, HMRC is: Checking the information you submitted.
Income tax refund delays in 2025 (for the 2024 tax year) happen due to errors, fraud protection, claiming specific credits like EITC/ACTC (held until mid-Feb by law), missing info, or general IRS review, with increased scrutiny on identity theft and income mismatches leading to longer processing times. Common culprits include wrong SSNs, math errors, incomplete forms, and discrepancies with income reported by employers.
A pending payment is a payment you have submitted, but has not yet been processed and debited from your bank account. When you submit an electronic payment, the transaction will be held as "pending" until the transaction has cleared your bank.
The IRS uses a combination of automated and human processes to select which tax returns to audit. Not reporting all of your income is an easy-to-avoid red flag that can lead to an audit. Taking excessive business tax deductions and mixing business and personal expenses can lead to an audit.
There's no strict maximum limit for how long the IRS can hold a refund, but they must pay interest after 45 days; while most e-filed returns take 21 days, returns needing extra review for errors, fraud, or certain credits (like EITC/ACTC) can take months (45-180+ days), and amended returns can take 8-16 weeks, with unfiled returns having an indefinite delay until filed.
If the IRS rejects your return, you must correct any errors and resubmit your return as soon as possible. You may be able to e-file your updated return for small mistakes like a typo, or the IRS may instruct you to mail in a paper return for more serious errors like identity theft.
Processing your refund usually takes: Up to 21 days for an e-filed return. 6 weeks or more for returns sent by mail. Longer if your return needs corrections or extra review.
24 hours after you e-file a current-year return. 3 or 4 days after you e-file a prior-year return. 4 weeks after you file a paper return.
Not necessarily. A pending transaction means that the merchant has authorized the charge but hasn't completed it. In some cases, pending transactions may not go through if the merchant cancels the order, fails to finalize the payment, or adjusts the amount.
When your refund shows as "pending" it means the seller has issued the refund, but the money hasn't cleared their bank. It usually takes up to 5 business days for a refund to complete. If your refund is still pending after 5 business days, contact the seller for details.
Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 for clarification. If identity verification is required, complete it through the IRS ID.me system as soon as possible. After verification, expect a processing delay of 2-4 weeks before the refund is released.
If the merchant can't or won't cancel the pending transaction, you'll have to wait until it posts to your account. Once it does, you can file a dispute with your bank or card issuer online, through the app or by calling customer service. You might do this when: You don't recognize the transaction.
Pending transactions generally take 3 to 5 business days to process, although some can take up to 10 business days.
Income tax refund delays in 2025 (for the 2024 tax year) happen due to errors, fraud protection, claiming specific credits like EITC/ACTC (held until mid-Feb by law), missing info, or general IRS review, with increased scrutiny on identity theft and income mismatches leading to longer processing times. Common culprits include wrong SSNs, math errors, incomplete forms, and discrepancies with income reported by employers.
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.
Errors on or Incomplete Tax Returns: Your refund may be delayed for something as simple as a forgotten signature, mathematical errors or if the income reported by you doesn't match what your employer or other third-party payers have reported.