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. Finally was able to order my 2013 return transcript about 20 mins ago…..From what i hear thats good news….I filed on the 23rd and was accepted on the 28th….So when i check wmr in the morning….I should have a ddd right?

  2. Day 16. Taxes accepted on the 29th. No changes on WMR still on first bar. Just got off the phone with the IRS and was told that no information could be given until 21 days and that count starts from the 31st when they started processing returns.

    • It’s like the 31 of Jan was the day they pulled their fraud people to investigate and I ‘m one now you have to get a letter and call and verify sucks they pulled me last year

    • I got the same info earlier today when I called. However, I was able to order my return transcript for 2013 which I was not able to do this morning or for the past week so I am hoping it is good news.

  3. I was accepted on 1/28/14 I had a bar of being received now no bars, yet saying still processing? When I go to turbotax it says that 0% of those who were accepted on 1/28/14 have received their money, I am not sure what this means? A friend of mine, filed a week after me and she text me today saying she received her money, not sure what is going on, answers please.

    • i dont understand whats going on…i filed on the 31st and still no dd. if something was wrong wouldnt i know by now or am i just being impatient…its been too weeks. i have one more week before i really flip out…plz tell me im not alone

    • Mines is like that I called since I have been on processing since the 24 or 28th from what they say and was told my DD is the 20th

      • How do you get a person on the phone. I have tried 3 different numbers and each time I get sent to the automated line.

      • I called 800-829-1040. Press 1 for English 2 for personal return. Then when they start giving options I pressed 0 a bunch of times and it finally transfered me. Hope this helps.

      • @Jewels, great I hope that applies to me also, I tried calling I did get a person on the phone who said they were going to transfer me, but I ended up with the automated system that said my refund is still processing.

      • I also owed from taking out of my 401k..But mine was from state, not federal..Do you think this could matter in the delay?? Did you call somebody?? or online?..Thanks!

    • I had that problem after the 1st bar.. the first one popped up then I check again and no bars.. it stayed that way a few days, maybe 3, then I was approved.. hopefully it means they are working on your file. hope this helps 🙂

    • I was accepted on 2/7 and still nothing. I showed bars yesterday and now today i am showing no bars but it’s saying it’s processing. i’m in chicago and I guess i will have to wait until tuesday to call and check on it. I tried to check my transcripts and it’s saying the system cannot verify my identity. I don’t know what’s going on.

  4. I filed and was accepted on the 29th but still have not been approved. What’s taking so long? I am on hold with the IRS right now, trying to find out what the deal is. Wait time is 5-10mins

  5. Ok file and accepted jan 31….I can order both transcripts but wmr is still saying process call irs thy can’t lookup anything until after 21…..hopefully being able to order transcripts is a good sign…

  6. This is starting to get frustrating, now i have no bar and just says processing, i was accepted the 24th. If i owed them money it would be a different story, I just want answers. But we cant even get them because we cant get through and the people have all different stories. Nobody knows anything and this is a government agency. We want our money and want answers, Turbo tax should be calling on our behalf and asking questions.

  7. So filed on the 1st if feb.. the wmr tool says check should be received on the 14th but it still hasnt moved to the 3 rd bar….filed state taxes a week later and the state site says refund was mailed yesterday….really hoping that my check will show up today in the mail….it has been approved for about 10 days now….has anyone received a paper chck n the mail as of yet or does anybody actually know when the first round of checks was or will be mailed?

  8. A lot of people are confusing accepted and approved what’s the difference mines is on the first bar do that mean that I was a accepted?

  9. I filed and got accepted on feb 2nd and I have no bars and just reads we have received you return and it is being processed since Sunday. I ordered my transcripts on the 12th. Nothing yet…

  10. Where’s my refund shows that my refund was to be direct deposited on 2/12/14 but the bar to be sent didn’t show up till 2/13/14. It still has not been received by my bank. The IRS said they show it being deposited my bank said to get a tracking number from the IRS so they can track it. I doubled checked the account information to verify and it was correct. What is going on? I did have an offset but it was already taken out and disbursed. So I don’t understand what’s going on. I need this money. My husband totaled our only vehicle Sunday and I have two little kids. So I’m needing to get a vehicle. Does anyone know if there is a way I can track it or just keep waiting?

    • I filed on the 5th of this month was accepted on the 6th tomorrow make 7days because of the weekend just give it some time I’ve seen people who filed way earlier and still doesnt have a date

    • I was accepted on Feb 2 and still on first bar received of WMR and cannot get 2 013 transcript which means they still have not processed my return. Its This sucks 12 days nothing. IRS sucks

      • Ok talked to IRS and Turbo Tax told me filed and accepted on Feb 2 but the IRS said they accepted on the 3rd and still processing. He also said many returns are taking close to the 21 days and they are working on them as fast as possible, Have to be patient he said. Sucks never had to wait this long.

    • I’m in the same boat I too filed 2/05 and still saying recieved/processing and then I tried to order my transcript but its saying no return filed for 2013

  11. I filed 1/31 accepted same day. Still on bar one no update call every day to order transcript and no luck. I’m with you all and the waiting game. Next week will be 21 days. Everyone I know has received their return. I totally understand everyone’s frustration.

    • Supposedly if you can order your return transcript for 2013, your return has been processed. I was FINALLY able to order mine just now so I’m crossing my fingers tomorrow will show me a DDD on the Wheres My Refund Tracker.

  12. I filed January 16 accepted January 26 still no ddd but today I finally got to order my transcript account and return transcript but still no ddd and I’m still on one bar at wmr

    • I filed on 1/31 & accepted on the same day i was like u couldn’t order anything but then on 2/12 @ 4am i was able to order my TS and 5am this morning my bar moved to approved with a DDD 2/18 so with that being said u probably gonna get a DDD within 24/48 hours, it’s not written in stone but just think positive and it will happen. I know its easily said then done.. lol i went through it and its a nightmare Grrrr :-\

      • @shanbam: sorry, i dont know about cycle #s on the TS. I dont understand nothing about the IRS. All i know is that they play with ppl emotions bout thier money and it ain’t cool.But you’ll get your DDD soon, some ppl dont but most do… GOODLUCK!!

  13. Is there anyone else left with an acceptance date of 1/29 (or close to it) that still has one bar and cannot order transcripts yet?

    I called this morning and I was told my return hasn’t even been looked at yet. -_-

      • mine was accepted 1/28 still no dd date and the bars on where is my refund are gone can someone tell me what is going on with the irs

    • Yep accepted January 24th ordered account transcript the other day but not return transcript had one bar then it disalsapeard. Saying still processing

      • I still have one bar, but no return transcript. I’m just frustrated. We have debt that we planned on paying off before it accrues more interest. :/

      • I have no bar anymore and it is still saying processing and refund will be provided when available, I was accepted on the 24th

      • Hello @ the dark night I have been accepted since the 24th as well and I woke up to find that my lines are gone so I called the IRS and was told mines is approved and my DD is 2/20 but the reason it took longer was being reviewed for addtional information because back in 2011 I took out some money from my 401k and it was not reported so that’s why but she said I shld have it in my acct by the 20 or that weekend. SO maybe you should call to get some info on your acct….. She also said Atlanta hub was closed for the past couple of days due to the weather.

    • Still nothing this morning. Today makes day 16. They have 5 days and I will start the harassing contact like they would do to me if I owed them money 😉 I seriously believe some of our returns got misplaced for a while. Too bad we can’t pull our return and resubmit.

      • Me to. I haven’t received any update either. Not understanding what is taking so long. Is it just people that filed with TurboTax that is having these problems?

      • Its not just the ppl that filed with turbo tax, I didnt and im having the exact same problems as you all are. My ddd is today and I have yet to receive any money… ughhhhh

      • From what I hear, its mostly those of us that filed with turbotax having these problems. Everyone I know who filed after me have received their money and none of them used turbotax!

      • No hon it’s not only turbo tax i filed with free tax usa and got accepted on the 28th and nothing still wow idk

      • @tina I filed throuh H&R and was accepted the 31st, and still nothing. on WMR I dont even have bars anymore, it just reads “your return is still being processed a refund date will be provided when available.”

      • same here filed the 24th accepted the 28th still on first bar i filed with taxslayer as i have before still no date no money got my transcript online it says 20140705 not sure what that means
        dont know how others are figuring it out from that

    • Yes i am the 24th accepted and now my bar disappeared and just says still processing. This is getting out of control, Irs needs to tell us whats going on.

  14. My return says it has been sent to my bank @ 3:27am on 2/12/14 but I’ve called my bank and there’s no pending transactions and no deposits how do long should it take to receive my refund? I’m worried my refund has been lost. Has anyone else had this issue or know why this might have happened?

    • Did you ever receive your money? The same thing is happening to me, my ddd was yesterday 2/14/14 it says it was deposited but when I called my bank there is nothing there and they dont see anything pending.

      • I did get my money but the my bank reject it cause h&r block put my account number in wrong, now the irs said that it would be mail to me. call the irs and see if you bank reject you tax refund. 1-800-829-1040 hope this help.

      • call the irs cause your bank may have rejected, cause that what to me, H&R block put my account in wrong not its being mail to me, I had a ddd 2/12/14 it was sent but got rejected IRS 1800-829-1040 hope this help you.

      • My tax provider informed me there had been some issues with the IRS and dd……others I know havn’t had any issues but with the holiday approaching that causes for another delay with mine, I filed 02/06 still shows received. This is the longest I’ve ever waited….worried….

  15. Thanks for the info on address change in the transcripts. Used my new one and no go. Old one worked. looks like still pending. Filed on the 30th, accepted on the31st.

    • Oh yes since when you make your taxes because I make them since Jan.31 and they received it 4 days ago and how much time do I have to wait for mine

  16. When ordering transcripts sometimes it will tell u that u are entering the wrong address.. This happened to me because I moved this passed yesr so therefore irs doesn’t have my current address on file.. It was doing it until yesterday until when I finally got to order my transcripts.. If you moved this year and are using that address then that means the irs hasn’t finished your return because your current address isn’t showing in their system..

    • Mines said that is in prosess how much time I have to wait because I make them on the 31 st of Jan, and they received it 4 days ago

  17. A tax guy told me if I filed as soon as they started excepting the taxes that I would get pushed back, and that’s exactly what happened. Received and accepted. But stuck on first bar… please hurry

  18. This blog has been very helpful but I’m going through the same thing as Madeline. Accepted since the 24th. No change on the bar. Can’t order transcript online or over the phone says wrong info and I no its right. I just don’t understand what’s going on. I tried everything u guys have been suggesting and nothing is working.

  19. What is a transcript? And how can you tell what date the IRS received my refund WMR isn’t helping we e filed on 1/13 got our state Friday feb 7 can somebody plz help me figure out why I haven’t got my federal return

  20. Filed my fiancée on feb 2nd, accepted feb 3rd and by feb 6th it showed DD date of Feb 11th, but he actually had in his account feb 10th. Crazy only took 7 days!! But mine I filed feb 7th and no status change yet other than received. Very bizarre!

    • Same here. Filled fiance’s tax return moments before mine. He received state and federal returns yesterday. I’ve still received nothing. Last year my federal money did not arrive until mid-June with no explanation as to why (filed early Feb last year as well). I almost had a nervous breakdown because I thought it was never coming & had already allotted that money for bills.

  21. What does it mean when you order you transcript and it says the information you enter doesnt match our records and I’m puuting correct ss#, correct DOB, and correct address?

    • This happened to me Madelin. I stopped trying to get my transcripts “online” and opted for them to mail it to me. When I put in my information for them to mail me, it was far less information that they wanted and I was able to order my 2013 tax transcript! The next day my DDD showed up, which is the 18th of February. I filed on the 1-31 and was accepted on the 1-31

      • Thats what im trying to do mail but when I try logging to see online it lets me go through I dont understand!!!

      • Madeline: Go to http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript. Do not go to the “Online” section. Go to the one where it says “Get Transcript by Mail.” Click on that and fill in the blanks. It does not ask for anything but your social, street address and postal code on the first page. When you press the “continue” button, it will ask you for what year do you want it for. It will ask have you filed taxes before. Say yes and then it will ask you what tax year you want the transcript for. If you do not see the tax year 2013, that means the IRS is not finished with your return yet. If it is not there, then just exit out and wait until tomorrow to see if you can get the 2013 tax return. Also, if you do see 2013, then you don’t have to ask for it since you know it is done and you should be getting your DDD very soon. Mine came the very next day! Let me know how it goes.

      • What does it mean when you go to do a transcript and it shows 2013* and it says i havent filed yet but i know they excepted it on feb 1st

      • Debbie:
        It will show up as having not filed because the IRS is not finished with your tax return. Once they are finished with it, then you will be able to order your tax transcript. You and I know you sent your taxes in to be approved by the IRS but the tax transcript department does not know that since IRS has not given your taxes the all clear! Once they are finished with your taxes, you will be able to get your transcript. The DDD comes very soon after that.

    • Madelin, are you putting in your street, city and state on the address line? I was getting that message until I put in my address with city and state on the street address line. No commas, or anything either. So it would look like:

      123 Main Street Anytown PA

      Then the zip below.

    • Same thin happening to me!!! Filed mine on feb. 7th and no status change on it just that they have received it! But have had a couple friends who filed and got there’s back in 7 day’s also this is weird!!!

  22. The Where’s my refund toolbar says that my refund was issued on 02/12/2014 but I have not received anything yet. I called SBBT and they said they hadn’t received anything either. Is there something wrong? Is anyone else having this issue?

  23. My status said it would be direct deposit from Jackson n hewitt since Monday… The irs didn’t direct deposit until the 12th I called my bank its not there n they don’t see anything yet…. Personally I think this is the worst tax season yet so far…….

  24. I got accepted on the 1st of February. I am still in the received bar. People that filed on the 5th have already gotten their return. I tried the transcripts thing to no avail. This is bordering on ridiculous.

  25. FIled on the 4th and acepted on the 4th but still stuck on that freakin 1st bar..ughh I wake up every morning with this hope that I will look and I see a ddd but nothing..here’s hoping for tomorrow morning with fingers crossed…

  26. I filed on 1/31 and i stayed at the first bar till 4am this morning 😀 it was a long 14 days of waiting on the unknown i was able to order transcript 5am on 2/12 and i couldn’t order them before then so yes most likely once you able to order your TS u will get a DDD very soon it says i will receive mine by 2/18 😀 i know its tough but hang in there it will come… oh and its a holiday monday so they might be closed. Goodluck everyone!!

    • Oh, and I filed on the 24th, return was accepted on the 28th. No, I did NOT know filing early could screw things up or I would not have done it. I didn’t even realize the IRS was not processing returns until the 31st…I received the message from Turbo Tax right before I submitted everything.

  27. I e filed my taxes on Feb. 4th and every day since then I’ve checked my status once. Up to this day its still states I have to wait 24 hours for my refund to get accepted. How accurate is that website and is it that the system crashed.

  28. Accepted 1/25. DD was supposed to be 2/6 not it says “There is a delay in processing your tax return and your expected refund date may have changed”.

    I called IRS 2x and they basically told me they can’t do anything or look anything up till after 21 days.

    I did just order transcripts so I guess thats a good thing.

    • Do you owe any debt to companies such as child support, or school loans. Not saying you do just saying that this is what happens to me last year for being behind on student loans. They sent them the money and then updated my refund date to the following week. Not sure if this helps at all

    • I did the same thing it said it would go to my bank on 2/6 than they took it down and I was told same thing they told you. something is going on with the IRS.

  29. I e-filed on the 31st of Jan. and Where’s My Refund says that my refund was sent to my bank for direct deposit, yesterday, Feb 12th. However it isn’t in my account and my bank says they don’t have it. I don’t know what to do, but I’m nervous!

  30. Hello. We filed on the 28th and were excepted and checked irs website the 31st and was told it had been received and processing. We used turbo tax. I have read where others who used this software are still stuck with no updates. Very very frustrating. We used this service in the past with no problems and after filing taxes for 6 yrs it has never taken more then 3 days to process a return. A bunch of people who filed after us have already received there returns. We are approaching 21 days next week. Our return was normal and in my opinion isn’t a complicated one. Getting concerned. Hoping to know something soon.

  31. I am really just confused. I filed on 2/2/2014 and was accepted on 2/2/2014. I am unable to order transcripts and still showing status bar at accepted and processing 🙁

  32. So i just found the 1121 issue is a result of turbo tax filing returns earlier then the opening day thanks turbo tax i wont be returning next year this is the second year in a row this has happened to me i wont be returning next year

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