What each filing status means
Reviewed
| Status | What it means | What to do | |---|---|---| | Draft | Not sent yet. Your answers are saved. | Finish the return. | | Ready to pay | Signed, not paid. Nothing has gone to the IRS yet. | Pay to send it. | | Sending to the IRS | Paid. We are sending it now, usually within minutes. | Nothing. | | With the IRS | The IRS has it and has not answered yet. Most answers come within 1–2 days. | Nothing. | | Accepted | The IRS accepted the return. | Keep the acceptance and PDF; see Your return was accepted. | | Needs fixing | The IRS rejected it and says why. | See Rejected: fix and refile. | | Delayed — we’re on it | We hit a problem sending it. | Nothing; we will email you. | | Cannot be e-filed | The IRS no longer accepts this tax year electronically. | Email [email protected]. |
California Form 199
California returns show a second status for the Franchise Tax Board:
| Status | Meaning | |---|---| | California: waiting for IRS acceptance | We send Form 199 after the IRS accepts the federal return. | | California: with the FTB | The FTB has it. | | California: accepted | The FTB accepted Form 199. | | California: needs fixing | The FTB sent it back. We fix these with you by email. | | California: delayed — we’re on it | We hit a problem sending Form 199. |
Questions
Where do I see the status?
Sign in and open the organization. Each return shows its status, and its page has a timeline: paid, sent to the IRS, the IRS answer and, for California, the FTB steps. The page checks for updates while it is open.