"Accepted" means your tax return has passed initial validity checks and has been received by the tax agency, while "approved" means the agency has finished reviewing it, confirmed the refund amount, and is preparing to issue the payment. The time between these two statuses can be a few days to several weeks, and a delay is typically due to the agency needing to perform additional review or verification.
21 days or less is a typical estimated timeline, according to the IRS, to receive your refund if you e-filed and chose direct deposit. Four weeks or more for returns filed by mail.
It's normal for federal refunds to take longer, especially if you filed jointly for the first time. The IRS may be reviewing your return if there's a name change, a mismatch in Social Security numbers, or anything new from previous years.
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 tax identity theft.
This may be a sign that someone is trying to use your identity to file a tax return. This can take up to 72 hours, after which your return will then be forwarded to the IRS, or if applicable, rejected. If rejected, you can then correct the rejection issue and resubmit. Please see this FAQ for reference.
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. Your anticipation builds, knowing that approval signals the final leap towards your bank account boost.
After you submit your return
If the IRS rejects your return, the email will list the reasons for rejection (error) and provide a link you should use to resolve the rejection issue. If your corrected return is not accepted by the end of the filing season in mid-October, mail in your printed copy.
The information in this article is up to date for tax year 2025 (returns filed in 2026). Most refunds will be issued within 21 days after the return has been accepted, according to the IRS.
After your return has been accepted, you can check the status of your refund on the IRS Where's My Refund? webpage. The IRS may take up to 72 hours (3 to 4 weeks for a paper-filed return) to provide information for an e-filed return, and the webpage is only updated once per day.
What causes an IRS refund delay?
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.
Contact the IRS if: It's been 21 days or more since you e-filed. The Where's My Refund?
There are a variety of factors that may impact your refund processing time, including your fling method, your refund method, and the information included on your tax return. E-filing vs. paper filing: Your filing method is an important factor that can impact the amount of time it takes you to receive your refund.
Combining direct deposit with electronic filing is the fastest way to receive your refund. There's no chance of it going uncashed, getting lost, stolen, or destroyed. The IRS issues more than nine out of ten refunds in less than 21 days.
A “return being processed” status means the IRS has your tax return, and your paper check, direct deposit or e-return is hopefully on the way. Your personalized refund date will be available as soon as the IRS finishes processing your return and confirms its approval.
Return Received – We received your return and are processing it. 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.
Visit the e-filing website https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/ Click on the Login button and enter your PAN details and password. Upon successful login, the user will land on the Home Page. On the Taskbar of the Home page, click on e-file --> Income Tax Returns --> View Filed Returns.
The $600 rule says that any business that pays you more than $600 is required to file a 1099 with the IRS and give you a copy. Tax law says that you have to report all of your income on your tax return even if you never get a 1099.
Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes
"Refunds that are not Direct Deposited because of institutional refusal, erroneous account or routing transit numbers, closed accounts, bank mergers or any other reason are issued as paper checks, resulting in refund delays of up to ten weeks.
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.
In-Store Purchases or Faulty Goods: The law simply says refunds must be issued “without undue delay.” In practice, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 expects that if the customer is entitled to a refund (eg faulty within 30 days), you should process it promptly – generally within 14 days is reasonable, but ideally sooner.
Generally, the amount of time is based on your filing date and you'll get your refund within 21 days after you e-file. (Paper filed returns can take much longer.) If you file before the IRS opens, you need to wait for the IRS open date (usually in late-January) before starting the 21-day clock.