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December 7, 2024
Question

I didn’t receive my tax return last year, but it shows on Turbotax it’s been approved

  • December 7, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views
How can I claim it?

    2 replies

    December 7, 2024

    TurboTax does not say your refund was "approved".  TT never says that, since TT gets no information from the IRS after you file your return.  TurboTax only tells you if your return was "accepted"---which is not the same thing as "approved."  Only the IRS can approve your refund.

     

     

    TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS. 

     

     

     

    First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

    https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

     

    Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

     

    You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2023 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

    https://www.irs.gov/refunds

    To track your state refund:    

    https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

     

    https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

    If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

     

    https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2580357-who-provides-the-refund-processing-service

    https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

     

    **Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
    DoninGA
    December 7, 2024

    Accepted and Approved are two separate IRS indicators for the status of a federal tax refund.  TurboTax does not receive any information from the IRS after the IRS has Accepted the e-filed tax return.

     

    After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
    See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

     

    If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

     

    What is the federal tax refund status?