Check the Status of Your E-filed Return
We strongly recommend checking your e-file status through TurboTax because if you need to perform additional steps, such as re-filing a rejected return, you can do it right then and there.
Simply sign in to TurboTax Online or open your return in TurboTax desktop software. Click the Print & File tab and then choose Check E-file Status. Follow the on-screen instructions.
This is a convenient option if you don't have access to TurboTax – for example, you're at work but your program is installed at home.
Go to https://turbotax.intuit.com/efile/efile_status_lookup.jsp to check your status.
If you receive the message No Record Found, try re-entering your Social Security number without hyphens. If that doesn't work, re-open your return in TurboTax, click the Print & File tab, and walk through the e-filing process again to make sure you actually transmitted your return.
You can also call the IRS or your state tax agency, but this should be your last resort during the height of the tax season (January through mid-April).
- IRS: (individual returns) 1-800-829-1040
- IRS: (business returns) 1-800-829-4933
- State: Click here for a list of state tax agency websites
No biggie. E-file rejections are common and are (usually) easily fixable.
New! This year, if your e-filed tax return is rejected by the IRS, you will receive an e-mail notice from our Electronic Filing Center. This e-mail will give you the IRS error code along with instructions on how to fix it. So, if you haven't checked your e-mail lately, do it now!To fix a rejected return, open your desktop return or sign back in to TurboTax Online if you're not already there. Then, click the Print & File tab, choose Check E-file Status, and click the Fix button. TurboTax will walk you through the necessary steps to correct and resubmit your return. You won't be charged again for re-transmitting the same return.
In the unlikely event that you're unable to fix the rejection, you can print the return and mail it in.
Important: Even if not all of your returns were rejected (for example, your federal was rejected but your state was accepted), you'll need to go through the Fix steps for all of your returns. Once you see the Done button you can re-transmit your return.See Resolve an E-filing Rejection for additional information about rejected tax returns.
This one's easy. "Pending" just means that the IRS or state hasn't acknowledged your return yet. Once they do that, your status will be updated to "Accepted" or "Rejected."
Federal returns can sit in "Pending" status up to 48 hours; state returns may sit in "Pending" status for 5 days, sometimes even longer (the longest we've heard was 19 days, but we're not naming names).
There's not much you can do while your return is in this limbo, other than periodically checking its status. If your return is stuck in "Pending" for an excessively long time, you can try contacting the IRS or state tax agency.
This can happen if you didn't complete all the steps to e-file your return.
When you e-file successfully, you should receive an e-mail confirmation from Intuit that your tax return was received. If you didn't get an e-mail, re-open your return in TurboTax, click the Print & File tab, and walk through the e-filing process again.
TurboTax Online doesn't "automatically" e-file your return once you enter payment. You still need to go through the Print & File section to e-file your return.
