IRS Accepted Return But Not Approved Explained
Key Takeaways:
- The tax return filing status, “IRS Accepted Return But Not Approved,” means that the IRS received a submitted tax return but has not evaluated it yet.
- The IRS provides 3 tax return status updates: Return Received, Refund Approved, and Refund Sent.
- Taxpayers can check the status of their tax return if they use the Where’s My Refund site, download the IRS2Go mobile app, or call the IRS office directly for refund information.
- Some common causes of tax return delays include paper form submissions, tax return errors, the taxpayer’s connection to identity theft or tax fraud, suspicious bank activity, or claiming certain tax credits.
Table of Contents
"IRS Accepted Return But Not Approved" Meaning
If a taxpayer receives the status update that their tax return was accepted but not approved, this means that the IRS has received their tax return, but they have not yet evaluated the information. Therefore, the taxpayer must wait to see if more action is required.
Tax Return Status Updates
When a taxpayer submits their federal income tax return to the IRS, they will receive updates to inform them of the status of their return and when they may expect a tax refund. There are three stages of the tax return acceptance process:
1. Return Received: The IRS has received the tax return but has not yet reviewed it.
2. Refund Approved: The IRS has approved that the tax return is correct, there is no tax balance due, and a tax refund will be issued.
3. Refund Sent: The IRS has sent the tax refund to the taxpayer through direct deposit or a paper check.
How To Check Tax Return Status
The best approach to check the status of a tax return is to sign in online using the IRS Where’s My Refund tool or to use the official IRS mobile app, IRS2Go. The information required to check the online status of a tax return includes:
- Their Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN)
- Their filing status
- The refund amount reported on their tax return
If taxpayers prefer to check the status of their refund over the phone, they also have the option to call the IRS and chat with a live support agent for a question-and-answer session.
When To Check Tax Refund Status
Taxpayers can use the online tax refund status tool to check the status of their refund within 24 hours of submitting an e-file tax return, or 4 weeks after filing a paper tax return by mail.
Common Reasons For Tax Refund Delays
Tax refunds are usually processed within 21 days of the taxpayer filing their tax returns, but if they have not yet received their refund compensation, here are some factors that can cause this situation:
- The taxpayer submits a paper return by mail
- There were errors in the tax return
- The tax return was incomplete
- The tax return requires further review
- The taxpayer’s account is connected to identity theft or tax fraud
- The IRS is informed that the taxpayer’s bank account was flagged for suspicious activity
- The taxpayer filed a claim for an Additional Child Tax Credit or an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
If you need help understanding your tax filing status update or want guidance when you fill out your tax forms, our tax pros are ready to assist. Schedule a free consultation with the tax experts at Ideal Tax today to get started with the steps toward tax savings.
If you need help understanding the status of your tax return filing or with any part of the tax preparation process, contact the tax professionals at Ideal Tax for help.
Luis graduated from California State University Fullerton with a B.A. in Political Science. As the Director of Operations at Ideal Tax, he combines years of academic knowledge with industry expertise, solidifying his prominence in the field.
