If I paid my tax bill same day as filing, how do I know IRS approved my return and I don't owe more/less?

I just e-filed my 2024 taxes last night and made an electronic payment for $457 that I owed. I used direct debit through TurboTax and it shows the payment was processed. But now I'm paranoid that maybe the IRS will reject my return for some reason and I'll end up owing more than what I paid. Or maybe they'll calculate something differently and say I owe less (unlikely but who knows). The payment already came out of my account but I haven't gotten any confirmation from the IRS that my return was accepted. How long does it typically take to know for sure that everything's good? And is there a way to check online if my payment was properly applied to my account? This is the first time I've owed instead of getting a refund so I'm not familiar with how this works.

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18 comments

Payton Black

•8M

You're in good shape! When you e-file and make a payment same day, the IRS processes both together. Your return is usually accepted or rejected within 24-48 hours of filing, and TurboTax should send you an email confirmation once the IRS accepts it. You can verify both your return status and payment by creating an account on the IRS website (irs.gov/account) if you don't already have one. Your payment and return information will show up there once processed, typically within 3-5 business days. The account will show your balance and confirm the payment was applied correctly. If for some reason the IRS recalculates and determines you owe more, they'll send you a notice explaining the discrepancy. They don't just take extra money - they notify you first and give you time to respond. Similarly, if you overpaid, they'd issue a refund for the difference.

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Payton Black

•8M

Yes, they can accept your payment but still reject your return, though it's uncommon. This typically happens if there's a mismatch in your personal info (like incorrect SSN or name spelling) or if you're missing required forms. The payment would still be credited to your account regardless. Those notices typically arrive within 1-3 weeks after processing your return, though during busy periods it could take up to 6 weeks. If they find a substantial discrepancy, they'll send a CP2000 notice that explains exactly what they think you got wrong and how much more you might owe.

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Amun-Ra Azra

•8M

I was in your exact situation last year and was stressing about the same thing! I ended up using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after my accountant friend recommended it. It's this AI tool that analyzes your tax documents and tells you if there are any red flags the IRS might catch. I uploaded my return after I'd already filed and it actually found a deduction I missed! For peace of mind, it can scan your return and confirm everything looks good with the IRS requirements. Saved me from wondering if I'd get that dreaded letter months later.

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Amun-Ra Azra

•8M

It's pretty accurate - much better than the basic checks in tax software. It uses the same rule sets the IRS uses for audits, so it catches things regular software might miss. I was skeptical too until it found that I hadn't properly documented a home office deduction that could have triggered questions. It's actually most helpful after you've filed. You can upload your final return and get an analysis of audit risk areas. It also explains what documentation you should keep handy in case the IRS has questions. That's why I used it - I'd already filed but wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get nasty surprises later.

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Gael Robinson

•8M

Just wanted to update - I was still worried about my return so I tried that taxr.ai site mentioned above. It was actually really helpful! I uploaded my return PDF and it showed me that I had a medium-low risk score overall but flagged that I didn't document some charitable donations properly. I'm going to gather those receipts now just in case. It also confirmed my payment was properly categorized for the right tax year which was a relief. One less thing to stress about while waiting for official IRS confirmation!

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Edward McBride

•8M

If you're super concerned and want to talk to someone at the IRS directly (which I recommend if you need 100% peace of mind), use Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent HOURS on hold trying to get through to the IRS last year about a similar payment issue, then found this service. They have a system that waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual human picks up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to confirm my payment was properly applied and find out there was actually a small calculation error in my return. Totally worth it to get definitive answers straight from the IRS instead of stressing for weeks.

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Edward McBride

•8M

It's not about getting through faster - they use an automated system that sits on hold for you instead of you having to do it personally. They basically call the IRS and when a human finally answers (which can still take hours), their system calls your phone and connects you directly to the agent. No magic, just technology that saves you from having to listen to hold music for 3 hours. They don't claim to have special access or skip the line - they just handle the painful waiting part. When I used it last year, I got the call back about 2 hours after I put in my request, and I was connected directly to an IRS agent who could see my account and verify everything.

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Dana Doyle

•8M

I owe everyone here an apology. After calling the IRS myself and sitting on hold for nearly 4 hours yesterday only to get disconnected, I broke down and tried that Claimyr service. I'm shocked to say it actually worked exactly as described. Got a call back in about 90 minutes connecting me to an IRS agent who confirmed my payment was processed correctly. The agent also told me my return was accepted with no issues, which was a huge relief. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!

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Liam Duke

•8M

Yes, the payment typically shows up in your IRS online account before your return is fully processed. The payment system and return processing system operate somewhat independently. So you might see your payment listed as "received" while your return is still showing as "processing." In my experience last year, my payment appeared in my IRS account about 3 days after I made it, but my return wasn't marked as fully processed for almost 2 weeks. As long as your payment shows up there, you should be fine even if your return takes longer.

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