Why is my tax return still pending after 48 hours?

Asked by: Wilburn McKenzie  |  Last update: January 9, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (57 votes)

If it's been more than 48 hours since you submitted the return and your e-filing refund status is pending or hasn't changed, wait an additional 24-48 hours before you check again. The IRS occasionally experiences a high volume of traffic, which can delay processing returns.

Why is my tax return still pending after 2 days?

This may be a sign that someone is trying to use your identity to file a tax return. The return has been placed on hold to give you an opportunity to cancel it if it doesn't belong to you. This can take up to 72 hours, after which your return will then be forwarded to the IRS, or if applicable, rejected.

Why is my tax refund still being processed after 45 days?

If the IRS is reviewing your return, the review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.

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.

How do you know if the IRS doesn't approve your refund?

The IRS won't email, text you, or contact you via social media. 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.

Why Is Your Tax Return Still Pending? (Reasons Why Your Tax Return Still Pending)

23 related questions found

How do I know if I'm being investigated by the IRS?

  • Am I being Targeted for IRS Criminal Investigation? ...
  • IRS Agent Suddenly Terminates a Civil Tax Audit. ...
  • Contacting The Taxpayer's Financial Institution. ...
  • Showing up at the Taxpayer's Home. ...
  • Showing up at the Taxpayer's Place of Business. ...
  • Unscheduled Interactions When A Taxpayer Least Expects it.

Should I be worried if my refund is still being processed?

If your refund status used to be your tax return is still being processed, but now the status says it is being processed, the IRS may have detected an issue in your tax return that could cause a delay in the release of your tax refund.

How long can the IRS legally take to process your refund?

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.

Should I be worried if my tax return is under review?

When your taxes are under review, it's normal to wonder if you'll still get your refund. The answer is, it depends. If your information checks out, your refund will be processed. If there's a discrepancy, and you've incorrectly reported, you may end up owing instead of receiving a refund.

Should I be worried if my refund is delayed?

Your refund may be delayed for several reasons. In some cases, you'll just get the money later than expected. In others, the IRS may send you a letter asking for additional information before it can finish processing your return and send your refund.

How long does it take for the IRS to approve a refund after it is accepted stimulus?

Even though the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it's possible your tax return may require additional review that may take longer to process.

How can I speed up my pending refund?

Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059).

How do you fix a pending tax return?

You can file a claim for refund for a tax year where unresolved tax matters are pending. This is a protective claim and is done to preserve your statute of limitations when you're expecting a refund. Unresolved tax matters can include: An appeal to the Office of Tax Appeals.

How long does a refund stay pending?

If you e-filed your return before the IRS starts processing returns this year, it'll stay in pending status until then. After that, e-filed returns generally sit in pending status for 24–48 hours before being either accepted or rejected.

Can I sue the IRS for taking too long to process my return?

Although you can't directly sue for the delay, you may have other legal options if the delay is unreasonable and causes you financial harm. Pursuing a refund suit against the IRS may be an option if other avenues have been exhausted.

Why is my tax return still pending in 2024?

The IRS can delay your tax refund until it completes any audits. This is most common when the IRS is conducting a mail audit on your EITC or ACTC return from a prior year.

Why hasn't my refund been approved yet?

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.

How long can the IRS hold your refund for review?

Delays can be due to issues like return errors, unpaid taxes, or old debts. Typically, simple returns take under 3 weeks, while complex ones might take 60-90 days. To make the process smoother, ensure accurate filing, settle any debts, and use IRS tools. If things get tricky, consider professional advice.

Why is my refund stuck in processing?

Things that can delay a refund:

The return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud. The return needs a correction to the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount.

What does refund freeze mean?

Webthe 810 refund freeze, also known as the tc 810 hold, is a temporary delay of your tax refund. The 810 code is placed on your transcript by the irs to halt release of your. Webthe 810 freeze overrides refund codes like 846 to prevent release of funds.

What is suspicious activity to the IRS?

The purpose of the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is to report known or suspected violations of law or suspicious activity observed by financial institutions subject to the regulations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

What is considered tax evasion?

Tax evasion is the illegal non-payment or under-payment of taxes, usually by deliberately making a false declaration or no declaration to tax authorities – such as by declaring less income, profits or gains than the amounts actually earned, or by overstating deductions. It entails criminal or civil legal penalties.

What is the IRS 6 year rule?

6 years - If you don't report income that you should have reported, and it's more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return, or it's attributable to foreign financial assets and is more than $5,000, the time to assess tax is 6 years from the date you filed the return.