Filed taxes with FreeTaxUSA but IRS says return not processed - no amount owed showing & bank shows no payment transaction

But if the IRS already accepted the return (even if not processed), shouldn't the amount owed still show in their system? I'm confused because when I filed through TurboTax last year, I could see my balance owed right away on the IRS site even before it was fully processed. Also, how long should they wait before contacting FreeTaxUSA? If the state payment doesn't show up in a few days, is that concerning?

The acceptance and processing work differently. The initial acceptance is just an automated check that the return contains valid information (correct SSN, name matches their records, etc.). It doesn't load your tax liability into their payment systems yet - that happens during the full processing. Different tax software companies handle payments differently. Some initiate the transaction immediately, while others might batch process them. I'd give it at least 3-5 business days before contacting FreeTaxUSA about the state payment. If by Friday you still don't see the transaction in your bank account, reach out to their customer service with your confirmation details. In the meantime, screenshot or save any payment confirmations from your FreeTaxUSA account as proof of your filing date and payment authorization.

How exactly does taxr.ai work? Does it have some special access to IRS systems that regular people don't have? I'm always skeptical of third-party services claiming to know more than the official government website.

I've never heard of this service before. Can it really tell you more than the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website? Also, does it cost money to use? Seems like something that should be free information.

The service works by analyzing the specific codes and status messages in your tax transcripts that most people don't know how to interpret. It's not that it has special access, but rather it knows how to decode the information that's already available to you. It definitely provides more detailed information than the "Where's My Refund" tool, which is very basic. The refund tool only shows three statuses, while your actual tax transcript contains dozens of transaction codes that indicate exactly what's happening with your return. I found it especially helpful for understanding why there were delays and when exactly my payments would process.

How does this even work? The IRS phone system is notoriously awful. Are you saying this service somehow jumps the queue or something?

This sounds like complete BS to be honest. Nothing can magically get you through IRS phone lines faster. They're government phone lines with massive wait times for everyone. I'm extremely doubtful this actually works - more likely just takes your money and you still wait forever.

It doesn't jump the queue or do anything improper. What it does is automate the calling and waiting process. Their system keeps calling the IRS using optimized timing (based on historical data about call volumes) and navigating through all the prompts for you. When it finally gets a human on the line, it calls your phone and connects you. The reason it works is because most people give up after being on hold for 30+ minutes. Their system never gives up and keeps trying different strategies until it gets through. I was skeptical too, but when I got connected to an actual IRS agent after just making a cup of coffee, I was sold on the concept.

Thanks for this info! I do have all the confirmation emails from FreeTaxUSA - both for my federal and state returns being accepted. So from what you're saying, I shouldn't stress about the payment not showing up in my bank yet? I'm mostly concerned because I don't want to get hit with late payment penalties.

You're welcome! Yes, those confirmation emails are your proof that you filed and authorized payment on time. The IRS and state tax agencies go by when you submitted the return and payment authorization, not when the money actually leaves your bank account. Just keep monitoring your bank account over the next week. If you don't see the state payment process within 5-7 business days, then contact FreeTaxUSA customer service with your confirmation numbers. They should be able to track exactly what happened with the payment. But you've done your part by filing and authorizing payment before the deadline, so you won't get hit with late penalties for processing delays on their end.

I've been using FreeTaxUSA for 3 years and never had issues until this year. My state refund has been "processing" for over a month now. Their customer service said it's because state systems are backed up, but I'm not so sure. Might try a different service next year.

This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation as the original poster and was starting to worry something went wrong with my filing. The distinction between "accepted" and "processed" makes so much sense now - I was wondering why the IRS website wasn't showing my balance yet even though I got confirmation emails. Quick question about the tax transcript - is that something I can access immediately after filing, or do I need to wait for processing to complete? I'd love to have that extra peace of mind that my return is actually in their system. Thanks for breaking this down so clearly!

You can actually access your tax transcript pretty quickly after filing! In most cases, it shows up within 1-2 weeks of the IRS accepting your return, which is much faster than the full processing timeline. To get it, go to irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript and choose "Get Transcript Online." You'll need to verify your identity, but once you're in, look for your "Record of Account Transcript" for the current tax year. This will show all the transaction codes and dates related to your return, even if it hasn't fully processed yet. The transcript is actually more detailed than the regular "Where's My Refund" tool and will give you a much clearer picture of exactly where your return stands in the system. If your return was truly accepted, you should see entries showing when it was received and initial processing steps, even before your balance appears on the main IRS website.