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. I efiled with h&r, accidentally claimed single instead of head of household and according to the irs website my return is being processed (on one bar)
    is my return going to get rejected? I did claim my 2 kids.
    thank you

  2. I filed on the 23rd and was approved on the3rd or 4th and have a ddd of 2/12 so I’m hoping it goes on then cus it ain’t far away!!!!! fingers an toes crossed lol

  3. Ok, prople, please listen carefully. You all will get yoyr money, stop being so frantic abput it! The IRS is working as hard as they csn to process the Millions of returns they receice. if ypu have to depend on ypur return money that bad, I suggest you change your filing status throughout the year. STOP CALLING THE IRS!! Let them do their jobs and stop calling takin up their time! Just bc it says ddd , dsnt mean u will get it on that EXACT date! It takes a couple days sometimes! I get it Im a single mom, just b patient and stop bothering the IRS!!! SMH…

  4. hi did anyone get a message saying ur refund has been recieved and then get a message saying that they will send u aletter with what they need and that u may or may not recieve ur refund but they sent u a text message saying its been accepted and still proccesing cuz i just got off the phone with irs and i told him my sisutation and he told me its still in proccesing i filed on the 21 and got accepted on the 27

  5. For my state they have me a date of 2/7/14 & said it could take up to 48 hours but haven’t relieved anything yet. For my federal I’m on the 2nd bar & the date they gave me is 2/12/14 but nothing yet. I used H&R Emerald card.

  6. My refund got rejected by my bank due to my husband being the primary name on the return but the account is in my name. Does anyone know if the return goes back to Turbo Tax or does it get rejected back to the IRS? Please help!

  7. I filled on 1/28 accepted on 1/30 no dd yet. Friends and family members filling after me have already gotten their refund. What did they do different? They did not use TT. I did some research and it seems the majority of people having issues used TT. I believe they know something and are covering it up. I have been a long time user of them but I think this is the last time

  8. Has anyone who used TT and the fees taken out of the Fed Refund able to use the Santa Barbara thing? If so, how close to the refund date were you able to check. I have a 2/12 DDD and nothing is coming up. Do you enter your SSN with dashes or without? Thank you all!

    • I entered my information and it said they had not received my refund yet. I have a DD of 2/12 also. What I did not realize is they take $91+ in fees and taxes from the refund in addition to the turbo tax fee. Maybe I read it wrong but that’s what I interpreted. Not very happy about that.

    • I just ordered my transcript…I hope that means I will get my ddd soon. I was also accepted on 1/31/14 and wmr shows received still.

  9. To all who are anxious to get their refunds…..I had the same problem. I filed on January 20, got accepted on the 29. I just got approved. When I called to figure out why it was processing as long as it did, the rep told me that tax returns are processed in batches. They have different batches each day being processed. You just have to wait til you fall into one of the batches. It’s hard to wait but the rep told me they are getting alot of calls and those calls hold them up from processing tax returns. So you just have to be patient.

  10. I filed and got accepted on the 27th and my mom filed on the 37 and got a direct deposit date on Sat for 2/12. Wth is going on

  11. Filed on 1/31/2014 wheres my refund displays returns are still processing on first bar, can not order transcript. Starting to get stressed!! whats going on?

  12. IRS has to be updating information every hour now, becasue i checked WMR a few hours ago and they had not even received it, then i just check it a few minutes ago and they have received it and it is processing…hope this helps someone

  13. I just posted a comment on here, and I guess because I said I would no longer be using turbotax products in the future because of the NO HELP I HAVE RECEIVED from them, nor the IRS questioning why my refund has been in the processing status for over a week now that they erased my comment. If they do not post my comment this time, I am going to make a formal complaint against turbotax, and start an anti-turbotax campaign and create my own online blog about this issue. So turbotax employees who monitor this, I advise you to address my questions and not try to sweep them under the rug. I am a paying customer and have been for the last 5 years including this year, so I advise you to help me because not only do I use your service I know ALOT of people who do and this could impact profits for your company. And I assure you your bosses would not like me being treated the way I have been. SO ADDRESS MY QUESTION. Also there was 0% profanity or anything obscene in my post. SO ADDRESS MY QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Filed my taxes and sent my refund to Kroger card but it will only take a $3000 dollar deposit and refund is more. I didnt know this until after I filed. What will happen now?

  15. Hello all, I hope this gives you guys some hope out there. I filed January 28 (TurboTax Deluxe) and was accepted. I checked on Saturday on WMR and I have a DD date of 2/12! I’m praying that nothing changes. We have childcare credit and education credit. Hopefully this is good news and hope for others!

  16. oh my goodness people….to the people that are “frantic” about the receiving your money….It will get there. The IRS has literally MILLIONS of tax returns to process.. It’s called be patient. If you are THAT dependent on your tax return then I suggest you change your filing status through the rest of the year. Stop spending money before you get it! I’m a single mother so I understand how important extra money can be, but be patient it will get here! I’m reading a lot of people saying their DD date is 2/10 which is today and they still haven’t received their funds, well it can take the bank 1-2 days to process and post to your account. Just becuase they say the DD date is 2/10, doesn’t mean you will have your hot little hands on the money that day. Good Luck everyone!

  17. i filed on 1/18 and they accepted them on 2/5 just tried to call and get a transcript and it wouldn’t let me should i be worried?

  18. Why cant I order transcript!!! I filed 02/01 got return receive on 02/05 and its been there processing since then!!! What is going on!!!

    • Madelin… I was received & accepted 1/31 at 12:30 am…. still processing. This makes day number 11. No ddd and still on 1 bar. Several people in the same boat. You are only on day 5 so chill out.

      • @Brandi…. yeah I guess its a couple of days compared to you!!! But I have a simple tax return and there some people who gets accepted and approved and has a ddd in a matter of a day or 2

      • Same here… mine was accepted on 1/30 and and I am still sitting on “Return Received” on the status bar. I called the offset hotline and there is no debt on my ss number. My boyfriend’s return was accepted the day after mine and he has a DDD of 2/13…. not sure what is going on with returns this year.

      • I e-filed on 1/16, was not “received” until 1/30, and it’s now 11 days without being approved. Simple return with a single 1099-R from my retirement and standard deductions…exactly like the previous 12 years since I retired. Mine is so simple, if I had a W-2 instead of a 1099-R, I’d be able fo file 1040-EZ. My niece filed long form on 1/31 and had EIC, child support, gambling winnings, and all kinds of other stuff but was approved 4 days ago with a DDD of 2/12.

    • I filed on 1/25 got accepted on 1/28 and I’m still in processing so my suggestion is to take a chill pill if it’s only been a week.

  19. I was accepted on January 31st. DD was to be Feb. 6th. Now I get this “There is a delay in processing your tax return and your expected refund date may have changed”. There isn’t a new DD date. I called the IRS and she insisted there was “no way” a DD could happened so fast.

    I tried telling here that has in years past and she was no help. She said call back after 21 days and she would look into. She said it was a website glitch….really? a website glitch????

      • @Shaunta-If you press the options for a business or other sort it will get you to a live person. Don’t click on the options for checking on you refund because it will bring you to the automated system…………Hope this helps!!!

      • I just called the # they gave me when i got the “There is a delay in processing your tax return and your expected refund date may have changed” message

    • Any updates? I’m in the same boat and was told I was randomly selected for verification. The rep at the irs told me to wait 2-3 more. wks for refund. She also said never to file early. Just messes up the system.

  20. Anyone know if you are notified if you have a lien or garnishment on your taxes? I have a DD for 2/12 according to IRS. But I also have an outstanding student loan that I am trying to get caught up on. Would I have notification from IRS of a DD if student loans were going to take my refund?

  21. Filed 1/31 and accepted the same day still on one bar as of noon today. And can’t order transcripts either. New tax year same old waiting wondering game. Last year mine was held up about 5 weeks because they had send me a letter and I had to call in and verify that I was who I said I was. Year before that it was delayed a couple of weeks because I had on offset with a paper check. Of course my ex husband- who won’t buy one darn thing for the kids-already has his! Why can’t it ever just go smoothly?

    • @Tina-f you press the options for a business or other sort it will get you to a live person. Don’t click on the options for checking on you refund because it will bring you to the automated system…………Hope this helps!!!

    • 18008291040.
      Just hit the prompt for english, and then just keep hitting 0 and eventually youll get someone. Be prepared to wait hours.

  22. Wondering if the IRS will take your tax check for CS, Student Loans, other goverment debt, etc.? Call this #. All you need is your social. 18003043107 (all automated)
    If you already filed it will tell you how much they are taking, if any.

    • Terry: The IRS can take your taxes if you owe any kind of government debt. I was wondering the same about my refund check, because I owe Illinois state taxes, so I called that 800 number a couple of nights ago. So far, I am in the clear! As the recording says though, make sure you check that as often as you can, because they get new names with garnishments daily. Hope that helps.

  23. Does anyone know what time the IRS sends deposits? I have a deposit date of 2/11 going to a WM money card. Walmart says I have no pending deposits. I’ve always sent it to my bank before and it would be pending a couple days in advance. I’m freakimg out it might not come. :((

  24. I filed the 31st was accepted the next day but I am still processing.. I am scared to death something is wrong called the number and it says still processing is anyone else having this problem?

    • Thought I would update I called about my transcript and the lady was very nice she said it is set to release the 20th 🙁 she said she saw no errors so I guess the waiting game continues

    • Yes, Having that problem as well. Everyone else that I did in my house is showing accepted and a date for deposit. Mine is not and I did it the same date as the others.

      • I’m having the same problem as you guys. Mine has been processing every since 1/31 and still hasn’t been approved. I did my boyfriends the same day he was accepted the same day as mine and he has a ddd of 2/13.

    • I had this problem last year. I had to call and talk to them and that’s when it updated and I got my refund a few days later. I filed on 31st of last month. Got an update on the 7th. DDD on 2/12. Could just be late!

  25. I was accepted on 2/2, but not approved yet. I called the hotline to see if I could order transcript and it said it was not processed yet. I am worried I messed something up! I have never had this happen before. =( Will I be notified if something is wrong and given a chance to fix it?

    • Yesif you made a mistake on your refunf u should be able to fix it i entered my childs birthday wrong and go a email saying my income tax was rejected by the irs because i enter my sons birth year wrond i fixed it and resend it to the irs and got an email about 30min after and youtaxes was accepted by the irs but that was feb 2 and my status on wmr is still at one bar so hopefully this week wil get a dd date

  26. My tax refund was accepted on 2/5/2014 on the website it had the status bar and now the status bar is gone and it only states that its being processed. What does this mean, why is my status bar gone?

    • anyone with the same problem??? I called the hotline to order the transcript for 2013 and it said it will be send with 5-10 days does this mean it has been processed??

    • When this happened to me, they had to reduce my refund to settle another debt. So they were processing it and about 5 days later I had new refund amount and a ddd of 2/12.

      • Grateful, well they deducted the amount that was owed to my ex husband since it was for the 2011 refund and we were still together. He said his is scheduledfor a dd 2/12 but with the new balance..do you think its going to show a ddd for my refund until its cleared from his refund?

  27. I filed 1/30 accepted on 1/31 at 11:49am. Still stuck at one bar! I went to irs2go and was able to order an account transcript but not a return transcript. I know people who filed after me and received their refunds Thursday and Friday by paper check! What’s going on!!!!

      • I filed on 1/31, Had no response on anything and the service was always down. Checked again this morning WMR on IRS webpage, then FINALLY said it was approved and my DD 2/10. Revised my bank, and money is there!!!

    • Everyone read this!!! Order your account transcript if u were accepted early within 2 hours u will have a deposit date on TurboTax site mine changed from the 21 day message to February 14 I was accepted on the 24 had all
      The bars dissapear and all that crap

  28. I filed Jan 3 was approved 1/24. My sister did her the same day and she already got a refund. Mine is still saying processing. No DD. When I try yo order the transcript on the phone it says due to your response we can’t process your order. Online it keep saying records don’t match. But both my state and federal have been accepted. Somebody plz help I’m really worried😞😞

  29. I filed on 01/31 & was accepted on 02/01. I currently still do not have a DDD as of this morning. I want to know if there is a website or phone number available that will allow you to check to see if your refund will be intercepted for any reason. I am so nervous about this whole ordeal as I filed my sons on the same day & he has a DDD of 02/12 (which I am very happy for him that his has not been delayed as mine is). Can anyone with any information or insight please reply back as I need some answers.

  30. Called the IRS if you filed Head of Household you may be waiting long than expected bc they are appproving returns differently this year. The WMR website is behind and HOH are being reviewed seperately. I filed on the 19th of January, IRS received it on the 26th of January. I was getting frustrated bc Im still processing on the WMR website so I called and asked what was going on.. I hope this helps..

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