IRS Processing Time: Confused about 21 business days vs calendar days for tax return processing

Tax professional here - it's 21 CALENDAR days, not business days. The IRS officially states that most electronic returns are processed and refunds issued within 21 calendar days of acceptance. However, certain factors like claiming EITC or CTC, missing info, or verification needs can extend this timeline.

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lol welcome to the waiting game. im on day 47 😭

Mine took exactly 19 days last year. Filed through TurboTax, no special credits or deductions tho

where did u file? if u did it electronically and its a simple return youll prob get it faster tbh

The real question isnt about business vs calendar days... its about whether the IRS feels like processing returns at all 🤣

Just want to add that if you're checking your refund status, the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool is updated once daily (usually overnight). So checking it multiple times a day won't show any changes. Also, if you filed with direct deposit, that's typically faster than waiting for a paper check to arrive in the mail. Good luck with your refund!

I was in the exact same boat last year! Filed early and was constantly refreshing the Where's My Refund tool. From my experience, the 21 calendar days is pretty accurate for straightforward returns. Mine came through on day 18. Pro tip: sign up for informed delivery with USPS if you're getting a paper check, or set up account notifications with your bank for direct deposit. Makes the waiting a bit less stressful when you know exactly when it hits your account!