2024 Tax Return Stuck on "Return Received" Status on IRS Website - No Refund Date Provided Yet

I just checked Where's My Refund on the official IRS.gov website and got concerning news about my 2024 tax return. The status shows three boxes: "Return Received," "Refund Approved," and "Refund Sent," but only the first box is checked. The system specifically states "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available." When I checked at 10:16 on my phone (with LTE connection), I could see I was on the official IRS.gov website. The page shows "Refund Status Results" with three status boxes. The first box "Return Received" has a checkmark, but both "Refund Approved" and "Refund Sent" boxes are unchecked with question marks in them. The exact message displayed is: "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays, please see our Refund Frequently Asked Questions." There's also a "Please Note" section that says: "For refund information, please continue to check here, or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day." The IRS tool shows my Tax Year as 2024 under "Your personal tax information" section. I'm getting worried since there's no progress beyond the "received" status. The message directs me to check their Refund Frequently Asked Questions for information about processing delays, but I'd rather hear from real people who might have experienced similar situations. Anyone know what this processing status typically means or how long I should expect to wait? Starting to get anxious since it's just sitting at the "received" stage with no movement. Has anyone else had their return stuck at this stage for a while? I've been checking both the website and the IRS2Go app daily but no changes so far.

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20 comments

Miguel Ortiz

•10M

The IRS Where's My Refund tool is showing your return in the initial processing stage, with only the "Return Received" box checked out of the three progress boxes (Received, Approved, and Sent). The "still being processed" message you're seeing is standard during the initial review phase. Looking at your OCR screenshot, a few key details stand out: - The tax year listed is 2024, which is correct for returns filed in 2024 for the 2023 tax year - The IRS system is actively tracking your return (evidenced by the status bars and detailed message) - You have access to updates through both the website and IRS2Go app, though updates only occur once daily The standard IRS processing timeline is 21 days for e-filed returns. However, seeing this status doesn't indicate any problems - it's simply showing that your return is in the queue for processing. If you claimed certain credits (like EITC or CTC), the processing time may extend beyond the 21-day window due to additional verification requirements. Continue monitoring the tool daily - once your return moves to "Refund Approved," you'll receive an estimated deposit date for your refund.

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Sofía Rodríguez

•5M

Don't stress too much about being stuck at "Return Received" - it's totally normal! I filed mine on Jan 28th and was in the exact same boat for about 10 days. The IRS is still catching up from the filing season rush and they process returns in batches, not individually. Since you're checking daily (which I totally get - we all do it lol), just know that the system really does only update once per day, usually overnight. The 21-day processing window is their standard timeline, but with the volume they're handling right now, some returns are taking closer to 3-4 weeks even without any issues. Keep an eye on your transcript too if you can access it online - sometimes it shows movement before WMR updates. Hang in there! 🙂

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Dylan Campbell

•4M

I'm in a similar situation - filed on Jan 30th and still stuck at "Return Received" with no movement. It's frustrating seeing that same message about "still being processed" every single day when you check. From what I've been reading here and on other forums, it seems like the IRS is just really backed up this year. One thing that's helped me stay sane is setting a specific time to check (like once in the evening) instead of refreshing it multiple times throughout the day. The anxiety of checking constantly was getting to me! Has anyone noticed if certain days of the week tend to show updates more often? I've heard some people say weekends vs weekdays make a difference but not sure if that's actually true or just coincidence.

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Malik Davis

•4M

I totally feel you on the constant checking anxiety! I'm new to this whole tax filing thing and have been doing the exact same refresh routine multiple times a day. From what I've been reading in this thread and others, it seems like the updates usually happen overnight, so checking once in the evening like you're doing is probably the smartest approach. I've been trying to limit myself to once a day too but it's harder than it sounds when you're waiting for your refund! As for specific days, I haven't noticed a pattern yet but I'm curious if others have insights on that too.

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Amara Oluwaseyi

•4M

I've been in your exact situation before and I know how nerve-wracking it can be! The "Return Received" status with no movement is actually super common, especially during peak filing season. I filed around the same time last year and was stuck at that stage for almost 3 weeks before it suddenly jumped to "Refund Approved" and then got my deposit 2 days later. The key thing to remember is that "Return Received" just means your return made it into their system successfully and is waiting in the processing queue. It doesn't mean there are any problems or red flags - it's literally just sitting in line with thousands of other returns. One tip that helped me: try to check only once a day, preferably in the evening since that's when the system typically updates. I used to obsessively refresh it multiple times a day and it was driving me crazy! Also, if you can access your IRS transcript online, that sometimes shows activity before the WMR tool does. Stay patient - your refund is coming! 💪

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