how long after taxes accepted are they approved

Once your tax return is accepted , it usually takes the IRS anywhere from a few days up to about 3 weeks to move it to “approved” (refund approved/being issued) in a typical season.

Quick Scoop

• “Accepted” just means the IRS got your return and it passed basic checks like your Social Security number and dependents matching their records.

• After that, most e‑filed returns with direct deposit are fully processed and approved within about 21 days of acceptance, and often sooner.

• Many people see movement (status change or refund date) in roughly 7–10 days, but it’s not guaranteed.

• Paper returns and returns with issues (identity verification, errors, extra reviews, certain credits) can take longer than the usual 21‑day window.

What “Accepted” vs “Approved” Means

• Accepted:
  • IRS has your return.
  • It passed the initial automatic screening (identity basics, dependents, formatting), but they have not approved a refund yet.

• Approved (on “Where’s My Refund?”):
  • IRS has finished processing your return and okayed your refund amount.
  • Next step is “sent” or “deposited” status.

A simple example: You e‑file on Monday, the IRS accepts it by Tuesday or Wednesday, and then sometime over the next 7–21 days your status changes to “approved,” followed shortly by your direct deposit if there are no issues.

Typical Timelines After Acceptance

These are common patterns, not promises:

1. E‑filed with direct deposit
   • Acceptance: usually within 24–48 hours of filing.

 * Approval: often within 7–21 days after acceptance.

 * Money in your bank: generally a few days after approval, depending on your bank’s processing speed.

2. E‑filed with paper check
   • Same approval window, but you then wait on mail delivery, which can add about a week or more.

3. Paper‑filed return
   • Acceptance and processing both take longer; several weeks before approval is common, especially in peak season.

Forum users often report that in smooth years they see “accepted” → “approved” in about 1–2 weeks, and direct deposit within roughly 3 weeks total from acceptance.

When to Start Worrying

• IRS guidance and major tax prep sites say:
  • Don’t call them until it has been more than 21 calendar days since your e‑filed return was accepted and you still have no approval or refund date.

• Delays are more likely if:
  • You claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.
  • There’s a mismatch in income information, identity verification flags, or other errors.
  • You filed on paper or changed banks mid‑process.

If you’re past 21 days from acceptance with no movement, the usual advice is to check “Where’s My Refund?” daily and then contact the IRS if it still shows no update.

Bottom Note

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.