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 filed electronically on the 22nd of January it was accepted on the 28th. Processing is completed and scheduled to be sent to my bank on February 6, 2014. Is this the day I will see it in my account?

  2. Hello it say mines will be sent to my bank February 6 but I want to a tax place to get mines done will I get it the 6 I’m confused

  3. I filed my taxes on 1/19/14 and via text I received on 1/26/14 confirmed that the IRS had accepted my return and I should expect an e-mail. I never received an e-mail and via the Where’s My Refund tool is still only says received. When should I expect a return?

    • I am in the same boat as you. I filed the 18th of January and it was recieved on the 26th. But i have no dd. My partner filed on the 30th of January and has a date of deposit for the Monday 2-10-14… Ugh

  4. I filed my taxes on 1/19/14 and via text I received on 1/26/14 confirmed that the IRS had accepted my return and I should expect an e-mail. I never received an e-mail and via the Where’s My Refund tool is still only says received. When should I expect a return?

  5. I was wondering WMR says received, one bar only, but I called the 800 number an it let me order a transcript. What does that mean?

    • My tax preparer sent on the 31st an I got a emailed recieved the 31st an nothing since. It hasn’t changed to accepted yet either but how can I order a transcript

  6. Well, I’m not sure what is going on with TT and the tax authorities this year, but nothing is adding up. I got an email from TT on 1/26 saying my return was accepted by the IRS. WMR doesn’t reflect that as of this morning.

    Yesterday, I got a notice that my return was accepted by my state. I just checked my state’s website and it says they haven’t received my return yet. I called in and am being told the same thing?

    Seriously, I paid TT to file my returns and now it seems like TT is just playing around because the information TT is providing to me doesn’t match up with what the IRS or my state is saying. What gives, Turbo Tax?

  7. CPA filed my return on 1/25. I check the where’s my refund and it keeps saying processing. Can someone tell me what’s going on???

  8. here is the most information I can find if you file and are accepted between the following dates the your refund is as follows the first date next to the accepted dates are for ddd and the second date listed is for paper/mailed checks IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between… Estimated Direct Deposit Sent Estimated Paper Check Mailed
    Jan 31 2014 2/5/2014 2/7/2014
    January 31 and Feb 08 2014 2/12/2014 2/14/2014
    Feb 09 and Feb 15 2014 2/19/2014 2/21/2014
    Feb 16 and Feb 22 2014 2/26/2014 2/28/2014
    Feb 23 and Mar 01 2014 3/5/2014 3/7/2014
    Mar 02 and Mar 08 2014 3/12/2014 3/14/2014

    • I WISH THAT WAS TRUE… I filed mine through TT on jan 16th and it was accepted by IRS on Jan 24th and mine is still showing processing. I called the IRS and they said that I owe nothing and nothing seems to be incorrect and thats all they could tell me. So it is defffinately not first come first serve.

      • Mine was accepted on jan 26th and it still say processing, so it’s definitely not first come first serve.

        I am lost for words…..lol

  9. So i suppose to get mine on 2/6/14 and today is the fifth and it still has not been sent yet and when do they update the info… Please help

    • OMG!!!…COUNT, WOMAN! YOU POSTED THIS ON THE 5TH AT 4:21 AND YOU KEEP REPEATING YOUR RETURN IS DUE ON THE 6TH. ATLEAST WAIT TIL THE 6TH COMES BEFORE YOU START COMPLAINING. JESUS!!

  10. We filed on 2/1/14 I got a email on 2/3/14 saying IRS received it… Has been saying accepeted on app but tonight when I checked it says federal e file not started? Been well over 24hrs & still no updates?

    • Suzanne,

      Many people like me DO work, full time and do pay taxes, all kinds of taxes. What would you do if you weren’t on this site if you’re not getting or waiting for a refund?

  11. I filed with turbo tax received the emails they were accepted but i check where’s my refund enter in the information and it says re verify i do than it says at the bottom if its correct how did u file and date than it says sorry information not available . I filed 1/31/14.

    • mine says exact same thing I called whoi did taxes thru and they say it was sent to irs but I need to contact irs to see what happen which I next to impossible to get a real person at irs

  12. So i already efiled my taxes and just found out the card its getting deposited on only excepts up to 7,500 a day to be deposited so my question is can i still file a form 8888

  13. On the weres my refund it said refund sent n I checked it again and it changed to refund accepted, I filed a 1040 form on 1/30/14

  14. On the 28 of January I received a email that my tax return was accepted but still have no refund date and when I went on irs gov where my refund its just saying its been received can you tell me whats going on and when can I expect it

  15. I’m so confused as well. I filed on the 20th, got accepted on the 27th. I’m still being processed. This is so annoying. I wish there were a way to expedite this.

    • It is annoying. They should be done in order received so it makes NO sense why some accepted after mine already have a DD date and I don’t. Mine was simple and I don’t owe anyone money.

    • Yeah this is some bs, I filed on the 20th and got accepted on the 27th and I’m still processing, but yet someone can get rejected and resend there taxes and get a due date of tomorrow, how is that fair when you pay to file them in the first place

  16. I e filed on Jan 31st and when I check on WMR it doesn’t even show received it says no info is available… Has this happened to anyone else? Is this accurate info? I’m not worried on the DD refund date I just want to make sure they have received my return. PLEASE HELP!

    • my CPA said it was a software issue with, my state return still shows nothing. He said it should be submitted tomorrow, 2/6.

  17. I filed my taxes on Jan 30th, received the text on Feb 2nd that it has been accepted, but the website still says its being processed. Whats the hold up?

  18. Is anyone here in FL or Tampa? I filed early irs says I was accepted 1/28 but wmr just shows processing??????? No dd date or any other info….. When should I have my money??

    • Hey Diva – St. Pete area. Used H&RB. Filed in their office on 1/17/14 – IRS showed received on 2/4!?!
      As of today (2/6/14) WMR says Received. 🙁 A co-worker said the government shut down didn’t help and is part of the delay. My info is all the same as last year with a very slight increase in pay so nothing should be holding me up. This is ridiculous. Especially when folks are already receiving refunds who filed AFTER I did. SMDH

  19. Why when trying to do the pre paid card it isn’t letting me use that option. I don’t have a bank account so I need to do the pre paid anyone know?

    • You can contact the customer service of you card and ask for your routing and account number then put it on your 1040 under account information

    • Hi Bianca,
      The IRS Where’s My Refund? tool will give you refund status results in three stages “Return Received”, “Refund Approved”, and “Refund Sent”. “Refund Approved” is the one that is probably most important to you. When your status moves to “Refund Approved” that means they will give you a personalized deposit date. They will not give you the date until they have finished processing your tax return and have approved your tax refund. They do not use “Return accepted”.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • The email i received from turbo tax states exactly ‘Turbotax: State Return Accepted’ and ‘Turbotax: Federal Return Accepted’. In both emails, it also says ‘accepted’. Should I be worried as you say they, and I’m assuming you mean TurboTax, don’t use that term?

        Thank you

      • The irs wheres my refund is unavailable I’ve been getting that message for the past three days and just had the most rude lady tell me there isn’t anything she can tell me

  20. I filed after my boyfriend and I got a date but he don’t and filed before me and got excepted before me…..what’s going on?????

    • Hi Tasha,
      The IRS will issue a date once they have finished processing your tax return and approved your tax refund. Processing times vary according to individual tax situations.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  21. I filed at my tax office 1/19/2014. They efiled it on1/31/14. I checked WMR at 7:00 pm on 1/31/14 an said was recieved an still hasn’t been accepted. Same filing as last year EIC, married filing joint. Only difference we moved on July but w2 had new address. Never have I waited this long to be accepted? Website only shows recieved. Confused on what’s going on

    • I filed my return 1/18/14 accepted on1/31/14 like everyones else.I filed head of household.The reason we are waiting so long is because they started the process barely on the 31st.I called and they explained it takes a few days even when they barely process it but the first ones processed should be sent on feb 5,6 somewhere around there.

    • Filed on 24th, got accepted on 28th and ddd for Feb 6th. I did h&r block and got ddd for Feb 6th. I think everyone who filed in offices got picked up first and got the ddd for Feb 6th

      • I filed my own taxes and still got a DDD of Feb 6th the IRS updates overnight so if we don’t get it in the morning then who knows. But a simple 1040ez gets processed quicker if u have lots of w2s itemized deductions school intrest unemployment forms and just a more complex tax return then that could be a reason why some people’s haven’t been approved or given a DDD but for those who filed before the 28th of January only a select few got processed that’s why some of us got DDD and some don’t the site u filed with tells u this and ur preparer should have too help this helps

    • im in the same boat. it was efiled and received on 1/31. It still has not been accepted and its the same way i have filed for the past 5 years. Married filing jointly, two kids, one w2. Nothing complicated. I dont even have daycare to claim. What is the deal with them this year???

  22. The IRS did accept some returns early. These returns met a specific requirement.
    1040EZ, standard deduction with no other credits added. All others were accepted beginning on the 31st even if they were submitted early.
    The WMR tool is overloaded so that is why some are seeing the “no status” message when they previously had one.

    • Thats not true. I do not file an EZ form and mine was accepted on 1/26. They accept them ewrly as part of controlled testing of there systems. It doesnt matter what credits you claim. I claimed 4 different credits and also a preparer who had at least 30 accepted early.

    • I don’t file an EZ form either. I filed on the 22nd of January and it was accepted on the 28th of January. Mine has completed processing and is set to be DD into my bank account tomorrow February 6.

    • Emily-My return was accepted early- on January 24. I filed on jan. 9th. I didn’t file the 1040 ez and I didn’t file standard either. So I don’t know where you are getting your requirements listed, but your information is incorrect.

  23. The irs gave me a direct deposit date of 2/6. Does that mean they will send it that day or that’s when it should be in my bank account? Thanks for the help!

    • Hi Katie,
      That’s when the IRS will send it to your bank. It may take your bank anywhere from 1 to 5 days to post your deposit.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • Mine is similar. The IRS says my refund will be sent prior to 2/6/2014 which is tomorrow. Says to expect funds prior to, but Turbo Tax has no date at all. So I am a little confused if they state this and it could still take 1-5 days to appear in my account?? Should I have filed myself via the IRS since it seems to take Turbo Tax longer than the IRS to place funds?

      • So just to be certain, anyone with a DD of 2/6 wont see it until 2/6 or a little after? If that’s the case I can stop checking my account.

    • mine rejected 2x due to my e-signature. apparently in IL not all drivers licence numbers are in their system so it wasnt recognizing mine as valid…not sure if thats your issue but maybe this will help other IL residents

  24. I want my money!!! I have my car in the shop I have to pay a 500 deductible I want my money it better be there by the 6th.

  25. how come i was accepetd 27th with no dd still? but my audit supports been activated and says paid in full? if irs has not yet approved my funds I do not understand..

    • I was accepted on the 29 but no DD date yet but people accepted after me already got their dd date I’m getting nervous as well!

    • I filed early January and got accepted on the 24th. I was showing one bar up until Monday the Third…now it just says that it is still processing and a refund date will be given when available. Im so frustrated that others got accepted a week later and are already getting refunds.

  26. I filed on 2/16. WMR was saying it was recieved now it’s saying that they have no info on that SS number. Is the system down? Also how do you check the status of GA refunds

    • I would like to know the same thing! I had one bar up until Monday the 3rd, now I don’t see the bar…just that it is still processing. So frustrating.

  27. And you would think that if the IRS didn’t want to be inundated with phone calls, they would update the WMR with a little more detail and frequency. Hell, Ive known the WMR website to be inaccurate over the past few years.

    Everything in my gut says 2/5 or 2/6 deposit date.

    • I sure hope you’re right! I did mine 1/22 though TT says the IRS actually accepted it on 1/27 but I still don’t have a DD date yet. It doesn’t even say approved yet! But I think last year I got the money before their wheres my refund link showed any info. So, in that case, their link is worthless to me. I hope the same thing happens this year and I get my money before updated on their site.

      • same thing for me too. last year, I filed on 1/29, accepted on 1/30 and money was in the bank on 2/5 and the WMR tracker was never up to date. This year, filed on 1/30, accepted on 1/31 and nothing yet!! Praying for the best!!

  28. Now when my status changes from accepted to approved will I only find that info on the irs website or will turbotax also change my status

  29. Do they do taxes in the oder they was received or is it by filing status ect. This is the first time I filed with turbo tax. I had a friend file with someone else after me and she already has a date.I dont have no dates and filed before her. We file just about the same things on our taxes

    • Hi,
      The IRS processes your tax return in the order it was received, but you will not receive a date until they are done processing your tax return and approve your refund amount. Processing times may take longer depending on your tax situation.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • Supposedly they do but I don’t know how that is correct when my taxes are simple and I don’t owe money and I still don’t have a DD date. Mine was done 1/22 and TT says the IRS accepted it on 1/27. My co-worker filed the same things I did and hers was accepted 1/26 and shes had a DD date since Sunday. It makes NO sense. I know it’s not your fault. It’s the IRS not making sense.

  30. Do you have to file both federal and state to get your refund because turbo tax would not allow me to efile my state only mail it even though I already paid for it. Will I still get my federal refund even though my state was not efiled yet??

  31. What’s wrong with the Where’s my Refund site and number? It’s been unavailable for like 3 days now. Everytime I try to check my status it just doesn’t work. Mine was accepted on the 31st but I know that its still processing. I am just wondering if anyone know what is wrong with the WEBSITE?

  32. So If it say my refund will be mailed by the 10th does that mean they will not mail it until the 10th or could it be before that?

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