{"id":13407,"date":"2016-02-05T07:42:39","date_gmt":"2016-02-05T07:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/?p=13407"},"modified":"2025-03-24T11:51:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:51:26","slug":"what-does-the-irs-do-with-my-tax-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/irs\/refunds-and-payments\/what-does-the-irs-do-with-my-tax-return\/","title":{"rendered":"First-time filer: What happens while the IRS has my return"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Filing a tax return is a process.\u00a0Depending on the complexity of your return, it could take anywhere from just an hour or two to several hours. So it’s reasonable to be curious about what happens to your return after clicking “submit.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we’re only going to consider tax returns that are electronically filed (e-filed). The majority of tax returns are filed that way, so it makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you file with H&R Block online<\/a> your return goes through a basic accuracy check before being sent to the IRS. After the scan, your return is transmitted from H&R Block servers to IRS servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IRS will check the data in the return for mathematical errors. It will verify filing statuses, exemptions and deductions and ensure you are legally entitled to any credits claimed on the return. It will also look for any indicators of tax fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there’s a problem with your return, or if it is randomly selected for audit, the IRS will follow up by mail. You will not receive an unsolicited email or phone call informing you of a problem and asking for personal information. That is a scam<\/a> and should be reported to the IRS. If you ever have questions about a communication from the IRS, you can call them to verify it is accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there are no problems with your return, it will be posted to the IRS Individual Master File (IMF). If you are due a refund, the process to issue a check or electronic direct deposit will begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can check “Where’s My Refund?<\/a>” on the status of your refund. Please note: most refunds are received within 21 days of when the return was accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have other first-time filer questions?<\/span><\/span><\/span> Get tips from H&R Block about how to do taxes<\/a> for the first time. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Filing a tax return is a process.\u00a0Depending on the complexity of your return, it could take anywhere from just an hour or two to several hours. So it’s reasonable to be curious about what happens to your return after clicking “submit.” In this post, we’re only going to consider tax returns that are electronically filed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":406,"featured_media":26466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irs","category-refunds-and-payments"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"What Does the IRS Do With My Tax Return? | H&R Block<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An IRS return can take awhile to get refunded back to you. 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