TurboTax Email Says Refund Coming - How Long Until Deposit?

In my experience, it's like the difference between Amazon saying your package shipped versus it actually arriving at your door. TurboTax sends that email when the IRS releases the funds, but bank processing times vary widely. Direct deposits typically take 1-3 business days after that notification, similar to how a paycheck direct deposit works. If you filed with a major bank, you might see it tomorrow. Credit unions or smaller banks often take the full 3 days.

I received the same notification last Thursday during the ACH Processing Window. The funds were released through the Federal Reserve's Automated Clearing House network, but my financial institution had a standard hold period. My deposit appeared exactly 36 hours after the TurboTax notification. The timing depends on your financial institution's ACH processing schedule and whether the timestamp falls within their daily cutoff parameters.

Think of this like watching a plane land versus actually getting your luggage - there's always that gap! I was obsessively checking my transcript during this phase last month and found that https://taxr.ai was incredibly helpful for translating what was happening. It showed me exactly what the 846 code on my transcript meant and predicted my deposit date down to the exact day. When you're planning around a PCS move, every day matters! The site explained that my bank was in the second batch of the day's ACH transfers, which is why I had to wait until the next morning.

I've been through this a few times with military moves! My credit union actually posts pending deposits the night before they officially clear. I can see them in my account history marked as "pending" but can't access the funds until the next business day. Last year my TurboTax email came at 2pm and the pending deposit showed up around 11pm that night. Might be worth checking your online banking tonight to see if it's pending?

According to the IRS processing schedule I found on their website, refunds approved on Mondays typically hit accounts Wednesday-Thursday. You can check your transcript for code 846 which confirms the refund was sent. If you're having trouble accessing your transcript online, I've seen people here recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an IRS agent who can confirm exactly when your deposit was scheduled. With a PCS coming up, I'd want to know the exact date rather than checking my account repeatedly!

Got the same email last Tuesday... was freaking out because we needed the money for a security deposit. Guess what? Money showed up at 3am the very next day! The bank notification actually woke me up. 😂 The funny thing is I had convinced myself it would take at least 3-4 days based on previous years, so I was already making backup plans for the deposit money. Pleasant surprise when it came through so quickly!

I track this process meticulously every year and here's exactly what happens: Step 1: IRS approves refund (internal process) Step 2: IRS initiates ACH transfer to your bank Step 3: TurboTax gets notification and emails you (this is where you are now) Step 4: Federal Reserve processes the ACH batch (usually same day) Step 5: Your bank receives funds (0-1 days) Step 6: Your bank makes funds available (0-2 days) Based on your 11am notification time, you're looking at tomorrow morning most likely. The frustrating part is step 6 varies so much between banks. My credit union consistently posts at midnight, while my previous bank would sometimes hold until the next business day even after receiving the funds.

Be careful with planning around this too precisely. On February 15th, I received that exact same email from TurboTax, but my bank put an additional 5-day hold on the deposit because it was over $10,000. They claimed it was a "security measure" even though I've been with them for years. If you're counting on this money for your PCS, I'd suggest calling your bank to confirm they don't have any hold policies that might affect your timeline.

Try calling your bank. Ask specifically about pending ACH deposits. Many can see them in their system before they post. Worth a shot. Might save you stress. Some banks have early posting policies. Credit unions often process faster. Online banks vary widely. Navy Federal typically posts overnight. USAA sometimes same day.