How Long Does It Take to Get My IRS Tax Refund? - Status

We issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. It is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue refunds for some 2020 tax returns that require review including incorrect Recovery Rebate Credit amounts, or that used 2019 income to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).

1. How long does it take for IRS to approve refund after it is accepted?
2. What does it mean when IRS says your refund is being processed?
3. Is there a delay in tax refunds for 2020?
4. How many times a week does IRS update refund status?
5. How long does it take to go from accepted to approved?
6. Does accepted mean my refund is approved?
7. Does processed mean approved?
8. Why haven't I got a refund date?
9. Why has the status bar disappeared on Where's My Refund?

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

They will provide an actual refund date as soon as the IRS processes your tax return and approves your refund. Most refunds will be issued in less than 21 days. You can start checking the status of your refund within 24 hours after you have e-filed your return.

What does it mean when IRS says your refund is being processed?

When you check the site you may see a message that reads "Being processed", which means the IRS must first process your return and then approve your refund.

Is there a delay in tax refunds for 2020?

A review by the IRS means that taxpayers will wait longer for refund cash for many 2020 tax returns. H&R Block notes on its website: "If your return meets these criteria, the IRS will manually review your return, and it may take an additional 10 to 14 business days to receive your refund."

How many times a week does IRS update refund status?

*Update for 2020: The IRS issued more than 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days last year. The same results are expected in 2021. Tax refunds are processed by the IRS two times per week.

How long does it take to go from accepted to approved?

Once accepted, it can take anywhere from a few days to 3 weeks (21 days) to go from acceptance to approval, and this timeframe is unrelated to how, where, or when you filed, nor is it connected to how quickly you got your refund last year.

Does accepted mean my refund is approved?

Accepted means your tax return is now in the government's hands and has passed the initial inspection (your verification info is correct, dependents haven't already been claimed by someone else, etc.). After acceptance, the next step is for the government to approve your refund.

Does processed mean approved?

Refund has been processed means that they have approved and are ready to send you your refund. Your return being processed mean that your tax return is being processed. Your status should change from being processed to accepted and then a date given for your refund. Keep checking each day for that.

Why haven't I got a refund date?

If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.

Why has the status bar disappeared on Where's My Refund?

The IRS states:

This has happened every year since the tool was first available. This has nothing to do with you being flagged or your return being denied. Status Bars Disappeared for many Americans who filed early. This also can have to do with your browser settings as well as your cache.