What does your refund message mean?

The IRS has your return and is processing it. This phase does not confirm refund approval.

The IRS has approved your refund and is preparing to send it. Where’s My Refund gives a personalized refund date when one is available.

The IRS reports that your refund has been sent to your bank or mailed. A sent date does not establish that your bank has posted it.

Processing is not complete. This wording alone does not identify an error, an audit or a payment date.

The return is moving through IRS processing. There is no approved refund date in this message by itself.

Topic 152 points to general IRS refund guidance. Seeing the topic is not proof that a refund has been approved or that a review is finished.

Topic 151 explains appeal rights when you disagree with an IRS decision. The notice and its response deadline determine the next step.

A refund may be reduced to cover qualifying past-due obligations through the Treasury Offset Program. The offset notice identifies the agency owed.

Topic 303 lists filing errors that can cause problems, such as missing or incorrect identifying information, arithmetic and unsigned returns.

The IRS sometimes needs to verify that a return belongs to you. Follow the instructions in the letter and use the official verification service it identifies.