Stage 6: Transmission and acceptance
Sent is not the same as accepted. This explains the difference and what each status means.
Tax season · Version 1 · 2 min read · Reviewed by Meridian Review Team · Sep 15, 2026
Four different statuses
- Prepared: the work is done.
- Signed: you gave your approval.
- Transmitted: the return was sent to the tax agency.
- Accepted or rejected: the agency's system confirmed that it did, or did not, accept the return for processing.
Sent is not accepted
A transmitted return is waiting for an acknowledgment. Until the acknowledgment arrives, the status is not final.
Accepted does not mean refunded
Acceptance means the return passed the agency's intake checks. It does not tell you when a refund will be issued or how much.
Who tells you
Your preparer confirms the status from the acknowledgment. Please rely on that, not on a guess.
If it is rejected
See the guide on what to do when a return is rejected.