Where’s My Tax Refund?

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The IRS officially opened for the 2014 tax season today and a common question asked around this time is “Where’s My Refund?”

Many taxpayers also have questions about how the process of getting tax refunds and refund timing works.

We know you work hard for your money and wanted to answer some of the most common questions we see about the issuance of tax refunds.

Here is a breakdown of how your tax return will progress through 3 stages with the IRS -“Return Received”, “Return Approved”, and “Refund Sent” once you e-file and where you can go to check your refund status so you understand “Where’s My Refund?”:

Refund Process

  1. Start checking status 24 – 48 hours after e-fileOnce you e-file with direct deposit, you can start checking the status of your return 24 – 48 hours after you e-file on the IRS Where’s My Refund tool.
  2. Return Received Notice within 24 – 48 hours after e-file – The IRS Where’s My Refund tool will show “Return Received” status once they begin processing your tax return.  You will not see a refund date until the IRS finishes processing your tax return and approves your tax refund.
  3. Status change from “Return Received” to “Refund Approved” – Once the IRS finishes processing your tax return and confirms your tax refund is approved, your status will change from “Return Received” to “Refund Approved”.  Sometimes the change in status can take a few days, but it could take longer and a date will not be provided in Where’s My Refund? until your tax return is processed and your tax refund is approved.
  4. Where’s My Refund? tool shows refund date – The IRS will provide an actual refund date once your status moves to “Refund Approved”.  The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in 21 days or less.
  5. Where’s My Refund? shows “Refund Sent” – You’re now closer to your biggest tax refund! If the status in Where’s My Refund? shows “Refund Sent”, the IRS has sent your tax refund to your financial institution for direct deposit.  It can take 1 to 5 days for your financial institution to deposit funds into your account.  If you requested that your tax refund be mailed, it could take several weeks for your check to arrive.

Here are more answers to your common questions about your tax refund:

Will I see a date right away when I check status in “Where’s My Refund”? 

Where’s My Refund will not give you a date until your tax return is received, processed, and your tax refund is approved by the IRS

It’s been longer than 21 days since the IRS has received my tax return and I have not received my tax refund.  What’s happening?

Some tax returns take longer than others to process depending on your tax situation.  Some of the reasons it may take longer are incomplete information, an error, or the IRS needs to review it further.

What other sources can I use to check my refund status?

Once you have e-filed your tax return with TurboTax, you can check your status using MyTurboTax.  You can even check your status on the go from your mobile device using TurboTax free app MyTaxRefund.

If you haven’t e-filed your taxes yet, you can start today.  You may even be able to e-file your federal tax return for free and have your biggest tax refund in your pocket within 21 days.

3,444 responses to “Where’s My Tax Refund?”

  1. Another thing, othr websites say wed 5th direct deposit & fri 7th via mail. It seems thru the forums that ever1 has same dd of feb 6th. Was that the 1st batch of approvals & if so when’s the next? How many times a week does the irs send refunds? Do all “non-complicated” refunds processed b4 6th get dd on 6th? And others get skipped or is there 1 person working on our “complications” @ a time b4 returning to regulars?! Shldnt they all b @ same importance? Answers plz

  2. Yea, I filed my taxes jan 7th, it was said first 2 file first to receive upon irs opening & approving. Accepted jan 28th, I was under assumption everythang going as planned. Today still processing. We understand it has 2 process 2 b validated etc. Were simply asking 4 a more in debt answer as to y its taking longer than expected. Not it has 2 b processed. We r fully aware. Can u help with that question so many of us quit asking n reading the same question.

    • turbo tax lisa has to give a standard answer everytime because she doesnt know the answer any more than we do. This is what she is also being told by the IRS. some taxes may be held up for mistakes or back taxes or it has more deductions than others….or just the luck of the draw…but turbo tax lisa has no way of knowing that. TRUST me i get your frustration because i filed on the 14th accepted on the 24th and still…NOTHING

    • Hi Stephanie,
      Here are the reasons some tax returns may take longer to process than others directly from the blog post:
      It’s been longer than 21 days since the IRS has received my tax return and I have not received my tax refund. What’s happening?

      Some tax returns take longer than others to process depending on your tax situation. Some of the reasons it may take longer are incomplete information, an error, or the IRS needs to review it further.

      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  3. I filed on the 1/28 was accepted on the 2/1 and I also don’t have a dd date I file married filing jointly anyone else in my boat?

    • What’s weird is that on 2/1 I was accepted at 438pm and didn’t get notified until 8pm I thought they update their systems in the middle of the night

      • Last year, I filed on Jan. 29th, my return was accepted on Jan. 30th, and my refund was in the bank on Feb. 5th. I don’t remember ever seeing progress on WMR tracker. This year, I filed on Jan. 30 and my return was accepted on the same day, but WMR hasn’t changed from “accepted”. Our returns do not change from year to year other than my husbands income. It’s the simplest return. I am a bit concerned why it is taking this long this year, but trying to remain optimistic that it will just show up in my bank like last year.

      • Me too!
        I filed and was accepted on 1/24 and I still don’t have a direct deposit date, as of today 02/04.
        It has me worried!
        I am reading so many other people who have received their DDD… It’s upsetting me.

    • same boat, filed on the 24th and accepted on the 25 (got email verification) still showing rec’d and WMR site not changing…

    • I am.wondering the same thing. I filed on 1/31 and my Federal was accepted within hours. My NYS return is still “pending.”. I do recall that NY has been very slow the last few years but I would still like to know how long before they accept

  4. I see a lot of people saying the direct deposit date will be feb. 6th. Did you guys file in an office or with turbotax. I filed 1/28 and was accepted 2/3. Wonder will my deposit be 2/6 as well?

  5. I tried checking the IRS transcript website and it said it was down because of technical difficulties. And the WMR site is down too. Anyone else experiencing issues?

    • Yes I just logged in on my phone and via the net and its def down…I guess we are all over loading the site! IM JUST READY FOR AN UPDATE!

      • Call the number on the site that it gives you when it says the site is down…. 1-800-829-1954 it’s an automated system that updates you on your status.
        And be patient.. not like complaining about it on here is going to help anything… LOL

      • So true lisa just sucks keep telling myself give up let it go.itll happen…but my son needs a procedure and its the only way hes gonna get it.

      • I received the same error on WMR site when I checked with my desktop. However, I was able to get a status when I logged on with my phone using the app.

      • Exactly, tomorrow is my DD date for my school credits. Hopefully they post like they said they would. I am still waiting.

    • That’s because of the system overload due to all you people checking “where’s my refund” every five minutes to check your refund status. You won’t get a due date until your refund has been approved. Period. The IRS just started processing returns 6 days ago. HELLO.

  6. I filed my taxes on Turbo March 2013. In June they sent me a letter asking for a copy of my W2 and I sent it same day even though they gave me 2months. I’ve been checking everyday and they says they are still processing it.

    • I AMENDED MY 2013 TAXES & MINE SAID PROCESSING AND HAD MY CHECK IN THE MAIL. SO I DONT KNOW IF SITE IS MESSED UP. IF YOU CALL 800 829 1040 IT MIGHT HELP

  7. I filed my taxes on Jan 31. IRS accept it but, I can’t get any other information or check my refund status on Where my Refund.

    • Hi LaShawn,
      Yes, per the blog post the IRS will not issue a date until your tax return has been processed by them and your refund amount approved.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • Lisa, I have downloaded the TT mobile app for iPhone. Does the app provide an “approved” and “refund sent” status like the WMR tool on the IRS site? As of now it reads the status as “accepted” with an acceptance date of 01/28/14. I live in IL.

  8. Turbo Tax states that my State Return was excepted on 1/31/14 but I just call and talked directly to the Georgia Tax Center and they say there is nothing received on my state taxes. Representative advised me to have Turbo Tax resubmit them? Have you ever heard of this before?

  9. My refund was accepted on 1/31 and as of today it still stating processing it’s been well over 48hrs is anyone else having the same thing happen?

    • Yes, I am having the same problem. I guess the IRS is back logged. When I filed last year I received my refund on Feb 2. My return was accepted on January. When I check now it says that’s it does not have any information on my return, yesterday it said that it was being proccessed. So I guess the next step I will receive a direct deposit date

    • My tax return was accepted by the IRS on January 17th, my update changed on the IRSTOGO App to no status when yesterday it said being processed. I guess I will receive a update to it by end of day, the IRS usually updates status once a day.

    • I am having the same problem. Everyone whos got accepted after mine has a date of dd 2/6. I got accepted 1/27 still not approved.

      • Mine was submitted on 1/22 and accepted on 1/27 and still not approved. I’m getting very irritated and of curse you can’t reach a live person at the IRS. At least not without holding for a half an hour first.

  10. Mine was submitted via turbo tax on Jan 31st and I have yet to even receive an acceptance email. How ling does this normally take?

  11. Filed my taxes on Feb.27,got approved on 29th,still says processing.There’s some that filed after me and on the same day and already have a ddd.I’m not understanding

    • Hi Lavelle,
      Per this blog post and the IRS, everyone’s tax situation is different and some tax returns may take longer than others to process. The IRS will not give you a personalized deposit date until they have processed your tax return and approved your refund amount. The deposit dates are personal to your tax situation and when the IRS approves your tax refund.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • I think they are full of BS. Mine shouldn’t take long at all and no longer than last year and my tax situation is no longer than my coworkers and hers has been processed. And I know, I’ve seen her return.

    • This year you may of filed your taxes early, but to new policies because of the forced government agencies shut down last year in 2013; the IRS sent for the first day taxes will be accepted was January 31st. You can efile, but the IRS did not even look at any until opening date of Jan. 31st.

    • Hi Jeff,
      Per the blog post, the IRS will not give you a date until they process your tax return and approve your tax refund. Processing times vary depending on your tax situation.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • The IRSTOGO website is down, the IRS.Gov website is down and the phone system to the irs 1 800 829 1954 is also down. It seems that they are flooded with inquires.

        I believe that the status will change by tomorrow. Hopefully.

      • i filed feb 12 and never recieved an email saying it was accepted :/ i tried checking on the irs website and all i got in return was that itll take 24 hours blah blah blah and nothing about if it was accepted. this is the 4th time ive checked it. i tried calling but they kept giving me different numbers to call

      • I was able to pull my transcript. It says 20140805. Where it says refund and balance due it says -$8638. Is it supposed to say -$8638 because I don’t owe anything.

  12. WHEN DOES MICHIGAN START ACCEPTING RETURNS E-FILED WITH TURBO TAX ONLINE ? Is there a date ? In all the years, it has not taken this much time.

  13. I filed my tax return on January 28 2014, and the only thing that I see on wmr is received. The only tax credit I get is the EIC. What could be taking so long this year? I would of normally been approved with a did date by now.

    • Hi Tommy,
      This year the IRS will not give you a personalized date until they have processed your tax return and approved the refund amount. Some tax returns take longer to process than others, depending on your tax situation.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • I’ve been checking Michigan’s site since I filed (1/19) and it’s always said to check back after 2/2.

        As of 2/3 it has no record of my return. I owe a driver responsibility fee – and I understand it will come out of my return (because it did last year) but why is there absolutely no record even if I call?

  14. Mine was accepted on January 24 and still in process right now. I am afraid that that since I got divorced last year and my status changed from Married File Jointly to single that they might red flag as possible identity theft. I was already red flagged last year for unknown reason and didn’t get my money which I earned and they kept over a year without interest until late March. This really gets annoying. They know people file taxes during this time and majority of us is expecting OUR money back. Why can’ t they work longer hours to speed up the process.

  15. Does “Tax Return Approved” mean the refund is approved as well? Or is it two steps? I’m assuming that it says its approved that I will get my estimated refund?

  16. Lisa I send my taxes on the 02/02 and received an email quickly that they were accepted but I go online or call and they say I’m either entering something incorrect (which I’m not) or that I should wait the 24 hrs but nothing and it’s been more than 24 hrs. Is there is something wrong with my taxes or this is normal?

  17. Lisa I send my taxes on the 02/02 and received an email quickly that they were accepted but I go online or call and they say I’m either entering something incorrect (which I’m not) or that I should wait the 24 hrs but nothing and it’s been more than 24 hrs. Is there is something wrong?

    • Mine says same thing and I filed jan 23rd accepted 28th but when I check wmr on its page I get samething saying they have no info and try back in 24 hrs been like this for a week now and I’ve only had the 21 day return timeframe and I was accepted early I’m lost

  18. turbo tax lisa. My state was rejected due to an incomplete signature i guess i forgot to put my drivers license. i corrected and sent back. does this mean that my federal will also be sent back although it says on website it was accepted?

    • I filed January 9th, was accepted on 1/24 and Im still processing. Contact both IRS and TT and both are telling me to contact each other. I tried to order transcripts but it’s showing me as a none filer. How often does the system update b/c it seems as if the only update was on Saturday night/Sunday morning since I haven’t heard of any other DD besides 2/6

    • turbo tax lisa. My state was rejected due to an incomplete signature i guess i forgot to put my drivers license. i corrected and sent back. does this mean that my federal will also be sent back although it says on website it was accepted?

  19. My return was acceptedvon January 29, at first I had the 3 bars with the received returns highlighted.Now there are no bar just a message saying your returns are still being processed a refund date will be given when available. I’m confused to what happened to my bars on where’s my refund. The received, approved and sent graph.

    • Hi Kia,
      You will not be updated to a “Refund Approved” and given a date until the IRS processes your tax return and approves your tax refund.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  20. turbotax says both state & fed were approved but when i go to the irs website or my state website it says its still processing so is turbotax messing up or is it the irs and state ?
    I never had a problem with turbo tax until this year ! whats the problem ???? and its been over a week for both since they have been approved.

    • Hi Jessica,
      TurboTax may have said your tax returns were accepted when your taxes were received by the IRS. The IRS will change your status to “Refund Approved” once they process your tax return and approve your tax refund. I know you said it’s been a week, but the IRS did not open and begin processing tax returns until Friday, January 31, less than a week ago.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  21. I did mine 1/21 it got accepted 1/28..now its says my DDD is 1/6..but i set it up to go through netspend and they promise DD 2 days soon..hoping i get mine tomorrow! I.filed through turbo tax

  22. I filed on 1/28/14 an haven’t received an email saying I was approved an I see other people filed after me an they have received their deposit date! When I check in the irs app it says it can not provide me with any information!

  23. I was accepted on 02/01/2014 i still cannot see anything on wmr it has no bars just says make sure im entering my info correct any reason why this is like this

      • Wow, I am still waiting IRS received my taxes on Jan. 26, mine says still processing. I don’t believe they are going in the order received.

        Congrats to you.

      • My return said processing yesterday with no bars or anything…but I woke up to a direct deposit date of the 10th. You cant really rely on what the site says…also turbo tax still says accepted not approved.

  24. Receiving a “validation failed” error message. tried to update; no updates pending. still receiving error. please help

    • New laws were put into effect.my CPA said because of the forced government shutdown last yr..2013, that the moved the Tax opening season date to Jan. 31,2014. The website says taxes received sooner because the do as they get in people’s taxes, but WILL NOT TOUCH THEM UNTIL JAN. 31

    • I’m wondering the same thing! I have my DDD that says 2/6 as well. I was hoping to see it possibly today, but nothing yet.

      • Some of u people are so greedy and annoying its not funny crying about I have a acceptance date of the 6th will I get it earlier there’s a lot of us who don’t have a date that filed before u that know nothing yet so quit ur crying and just be glad u got a date and know something

  25. I filed my taxes on 01/31/14 and was accepted 02/01/14. It doesnt show “approved”yet. I was wondering if anyone that filed on the 31st has an approval yet? And refund date?

  26. I filed my taxes 01-09-2014 and was told the earlier you file the sooner you get your return. Well when the irs opened 01-31-2014 my return was approved the same day. But I have yet to see a refund approved status. how long will it take them to approve my refund. My sister n law didn’t file hers until 01-31-2014 and already has a date when she is getting her refund 02-06-2014.I did my online but she went into a office to do hers. Whats going on please tell me something.

    • Hi Jewell,
      The IRS will provide a Refund Approved message and a date for your refund once your tax return is processed and your refund amount is approved. Some tax returns may take longer than others to process since everyones tax situation is different.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  27. can anyone with a deposit date of the 6th please tell me when they filed with turbo tax? i did mine on Jan 14th and I dont see an approved date. Usually I get mine within days of sending it.

    • I did mine on 1-22-2014. And on the 28th the irs accepted it early. And got approved the night of the 31st. And now it says money was sent for dd on 2-6-2014. And I went thru TurboTax. Hopefully this helps and gets tou excited about your soon to be bundle-O-money.

      • I went through turbo tax also. I filed on the 22th of January and got approved on Jan 28th. Why didnt I get a direct deposit date of the 6th.

    • Hey Jen,

      I E-filed on January 18 through TurboTax and the IRS accepted the return on January 26. My tax refund is scheduled for February 6, 2014. Hope this helps!

  28. Why does turbo tax state both my state and federal taxes have been accepted but irs wmr state thats its only been received??

    • Hi Courtney,
      The TurboTax notice lets you know that your tax return has been transmitted and received by the IRS, but you will receive status updates from the IRS, Return received, Return Approved, and Refund Sent. IRS WMR will change from “Return Received” to “Return Approved” once your tax return is processed and your tax refund is approved.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

    • Hi Courtney,
      TurboTax will let you know that the IRS has accepted your tax return once it has been transmitted to the IRS. You will not move from “return received” status to “Refund approved” until the IRS processes your tax return and approves your tax refund.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  29. It says my return was accepted jan 26th here it is the 3rd and nothing yet the irs is so slow and unorganized it still says processing yet everyone else who filed when I did is getting there’s back the 6th of feb why always me

    • U r not the only one. I know several that were accepted on the 26th and 27th that dnt have dates yet. U will probably get an update tmrw. The irs is always unorganized!

      • Yes they are and they’re certainly not processing them in order like they claim since people filed after me already have DD dates. I have a very simple return and don’t owe anyone.

  30. I worked in Hyanis last summer. i had a j-1 visa (student vias).
    Do I apply for my tax refund in the normal way or do I have to complete other forms as I Live in Ireland.
    Many thanks

  31. Lisa how come you can’t answer our questions it would be better understude if you just explained it to us instead of redirecting us

  32. I submitted my tax refund using free fillable forms on 1/31/14. I rec’d an email saying it was recieved and “Pending” and I would hear a status within 24-48 hrs. It as been 48 hrs. now and I have yet to hear anything. I didn’t know if it was because it fell over a weekend or If something might be wrong. I just wanted to make sure everything is ok.

  33. Filed 1/30/14. Never have had an issue. Federal still says pending. WMR has no info of our return. What is going on?

    State was accepted and refund approved on 1/30 & 1/31

  34. My refund is on the second step how long til it is actually sent i have a Direct deposit date of feb 6 on the irs website

    • When did you file with turbo tax? it said sooner to file with turbo tax the sooner it gets sent to the IRS. I sent mine on Jan 14th. I cant imagine too many people doing it sooner yet everyone has a date of Feb 6th as an approved date for deposit. What date did you do your taxes with turbo tax?

    • When was yours accepted? Mine was accepted on Jan 31st but I checked today and nothing everything is still the same. Nothing has been approved. So question is if you have been approved already what was your accepted date?

    • Hi Samantha,
      Please go back in and check the status of your tax return to see if it was accepted by your state.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

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