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. Okay so I filed my taxes on February 2 got excepted February 4, 2014 since then my taxes have been processing and they have not changed yet on the irs website. it says I should receive it within 21 days but when the 21st day hits it will be on the 25th of Feb. Can anyone tell me if they are still waiting for their money and y is it taking so long…

  2. Update!!! Nothing yet!!! No return transcript and its still in return receive!!!! I filed on 02/01 and got accepted on 02/05!!! Day 16. 🙁

  3. Has anyone used a western union prepaid master card for DD?? if so did they hold your money for 7-10 days? like they said they were going to do with mine! filed on 2/7 accepted on 2/8 approved on 2/20 DDD of 2/24

  4. So i just talked to an IRS rep through the phone and they said that my case(supposelly) has been randomly selected for further processing and that they started the processing on feb 8th and tht i have a time frame of 45 days…. so if i dont hear anything by march 26 to call them again… are you EFFING kidding me!!!! I filed on the 24th and accepted the 28th…now this BS!!!!

      • So everyone who filed before January 31 who got accepted january 24 is going back thru processing. There saying review and that’s probably because we were accepted early.
        I was accepted on January 24 but e file acceptance is separate from irs acceptance irs didn’t start processing mine untill Feb 7. That’s the issue. and irs said Turbo tax shouldn’t have sent them early. That’s from irs worker I know personally.

      • I actually filed on the 31st accepted the 3rd. Wmr says processing still. Ppl who filed after me got there’s already

      • yes it does… i called 18008291040 dialed 1 thne 4 then 2 then2 then 1…. yes still processing… which is why i was so pissed cus they couldnt anounce that on WMR!!!!

      • and yea like i said i filed the 24th accepted the 28th and started to be processed the 8 of feb… thats what they said… i think mine is delayed because i have educational credit plus federal… i dnt kno….

  5. I efiled on the forth of feb for some reason it was pending with hr block until the 12 status changed to processing on the 15 I got a direct deposit date ot 2/21 it was in my bank today around 4 pm good luck to all

  6. Me & My Bf Filed Taxes On The Same Day And They Was Accepted On The Same Day Which Was The 2/11 && We Filed On 2/10 And Mines Was Approved A Few Days Later And My Bf Is Still Sayn Accepted…I Kno It Hasnt Been 21Days But It Has Never Took This Long And For Us Filing On The Same Day Why Was Mines Approved And His Jus Being Accepted ? Anyone With This Same Problem .. ??

  7. Yea this is a bunch of crap!!! I filed 1/28 and it was accepted 2/29 and like all of you’ll I am still in processing state. Its our money yet the IRS won’t tell us anything. You know it would be a lot easier to wait if they would just take a minute to answer our questions. What is the big deal in saying everything is fine we are just slow. And not this run around deal with you have to wait 21 days.

  8. Just talked to irs . I e-filed and was accepted january 24 but irs didn’t start processing it untill Feb 7 so 21 days isn’t untill the 28. Sucks and got randomly selected for review. I talked to 2 other irs agents they didn’t tell me that. This guy did.
    Just cause we efiled early doesn’t mean it was processed early.

  9. I filed 1/30.. was accepted on 2/1 by IRS.. Im on day 20.. WMR still says (processing) & up until this afternoon I had not been able to order transcripts.. No federal offsets when I call the 800 number.. What the heck is going on? “Its my money & I need it NOW”

  10. As of this morning I am now approved on WMR and showing a DD date of 2/24. I was accepted on Feb 5, and I was able to pull up my transcripts on 2/18 (until then it was saying being process date will come later). cycle posted number on my transcript was 20140803. hang in there guys, looks like the next Deposit batch is set for 2/24

  11. When I try to check my status is says that I must have entered the wrong information but I did not so does that mean something’s wrong? Is my return being processed or has it been lost? I don’t understand……Has anyone else got that message this year?

    • Yes, I’m getting the same error message. I don’t know why I’m getting this message, I entered everything correct, social security, filing status, and refund amount, still shows nothing, not even “received” , very frustrated right now

    • Just got that same message re:wrong data. Up until Tues it said it gad been approved with 2/20 as the date refund was supposed to be sent to bank. Nothing has hit my bank yet

  12. I checked my refund status, theirs no bars it’s asking if I put the right information in. They also saying what data that I sent it in, sent in on February 15,.

  13. My ddd was febuary 20th and my money is not in my account when I checked on where’s my refund the bar is not on refund sent it’s still on approved but my date was today….. does anybody know what’s going on

  14. Can anyone please give me the number to the irs. Ive called but can never get a live person. Anyone that has spoken with a live person will you please pass the number this way.

  15. I filed in the early party of January but my tax lasdy send it off on January 31 I was accepted according to wmr on feb.15,2014 and its say I that my check will be mailed by feb.24,2014 ….. I dont even know why I didnt do direct deposit I just wanted a paper check but it has never took so long has anu experience that or gotten their paper check in mail…

  16. We used hr block the irs said money was released on 2/20 and hr block said money was released at 11 am on 2/20 but my bank dtill dont have my money

  17. I too am frustrated filed Feb 3 got accepted Feb 13 Its feb20 and haven’t been approved yet does this mean I’m get audited or something? The wmr only shows the bars with one highlighted but no other messages that I’m being reviewed or anything .anyone with the same problem?

    • I was accepted feb 4, and since then processing and no changes as of yet still waiting for an approval has anyone waited this long and why is it taking so long to be excepted. my husband did his one day before mine he got his within one week!!!

  18. Can someone please give me some advice if you’re having a similar situation? I filed and was accepted/approved on 2/1. On my TurboTax account; it says I should receive it by 2/20 then it changed to 2/22. Today is the 20th and I’ve gotten nothing… no updates, no anything.

  19. Filed on 31st and accepted on 2-4, looked at my transcripts online on 2-15, showed typical codes and cycle 20140605 wich is supposedly means Feb 6 but not so sure after doing a little research, also shows processing date of Feb 24….guess that’s the date my 21 days are up. Still shows processing on the WMR site. I have a paper check coming so no telling how long that will take but I think a lot of peeps will see their transcripts, DDs or DDDs this weekend since the 21 days wait is winding down.

  20. Mines was accepted on feb 4th and tt say before the 23rd but wmr say its processing…. i checked the santa barbara bank and its says they havent received anything…. i think if u mak under 100k they should just process it immediately…. this is a headache because people that filed after me have got theirs

    • Where do you get the date of ddd? I have never seen a date or any bars it’s been three weeks just says processing. Any one get there money and still have a processing status

  21. They gave me a ddd of 2/21 ( tomorrow) but it also said if not deposited by the 25th to call but do not call until then. Any one know if this is normal to see on wmr?

  22. Finally got to speak to a very nice man he told me I should receive a refund date by the weekend and that there’s nothing wrong that people who filed early are in the process of getting don now made me feel better I’m just going to wait intell the weekend is up then I’ll call back if I don’t get anything but it feels good to no nothings wrong just have wait because I filed early

  23. Spokeh with irs this morning very nice lady. She told me TurboTax wasn’t supposed to send taxes in early. 21 days from the 31st. If ur deposit isn’t in by end of bussiness day tomorrow on Friday call Monday for them to look into it. If u were accepted January 24 it wasn’t processed untill the 31st or later

    • Filed jan 16 accepted January 26 processing since January 31 still no ddd no notices transcripts ordered since February 13 wmr still says processing a refund date will be provided when available anyone with this same scenario

  24. I called the IRS yesterday. I was accepted Feb 2nd according to Turbotax and am still processing. I can not view transcripts and my bars disappeared a week ago. After a lot of convincing, the lady reviewed my account and said my actual accepted date was 2/4 and that she does not see any indicators that there is a problem with my return, just that its processing. She said 1/31 was the first day which means it isnt 21 days for anyone until tomorrow(2/21) and if you dont have anything by 2/24 to call. She said I should have mine by the 21 day mark(2/25), but we shall see!! Such a pain!
    P.S. I waited on hold for 35 mins mid afternoon. She did not want to even look at my account until I told her I was concerned that I may have had a debt due(LIE) and that we had extra forms this year and I worried there was a mistake.

    Good Luck everyone!

    • I did the exact thing when I called today I was told the same thing I should have my money tomorrow I will keep my fingers crossed for you and everyone else still waiting on their refund

    • I called the IRS and was told that mines was actually accepted on 2/4/14 but Turbotax told me 2/1/14. I am just going to wait until the first of next week to see if I get a DDD are if it updates.

    • offsets doesnt delay processing. They are handled by two diff entities. IRS processes a refund, Treasury Offsets and will deduct the money before makin a deposit. Thats why the irs does not give u info on offsets. They can only tell u it may be offset due xyz..and to call the TReasury Offset Dept.

      • I was on the offset list last year and they didn’t take any money. I’m currently on a payment plan now with school loans but my name is on the off set list again my wmr still says processing nothing else. The IRS worker said I should get the money by Tuesday if not call. Anyone have an offset but still got your refund

  25. I filed and was accepted on 1/31. Stayed on return rec until a few days ago when my bars completely disappeared. This morning it says my return has been process and a check will be mailed by 2/26 and I should receive it by 3/36. This confused me because I requested direct deposit. I checked my transcripts, and the refund amount didn’t change, so I don’t know why they are sending a paper check instead of DD. Has this happened to anyone else?

    • was your dd going to a bank account or card? I have heard that certain cards this year have put limits on the amounts they are allowing to be loaded from IRS because of so many past fraudelant returns. So they may have sent your DD back to IRS to send you a paper check.

  26. I called them I was accepted on the 27th that dont matter u count from the 31st and she couldn’t answer or look at my info till 21 days from the 31st to call back monday if I dont get a date but she said its a good thing if it processing cause if I owed it would of said it by now

  27. UPDATE- have direct deposit date 2/24 filed on 2/7 accepted on 2/8 with HR block. But I am using Western union pre paid card to have my money direct deposited on and I have called them and they told me they are going to hold my money for 7-10 days!! This is BS I have waited long enough from the IRS! ???? HAS ANYONE GOT THERE REFUND ON WU PREPAID CARD IF YOU HAVE HOW LONG BEFORE THEY RELEASED IT????

  28. My refund has been received and aproved and gave me the direct deposit date for today but is not in my account and the irs website doesnt say its been sent yet. If it is sapost to be sent today then why hasnt it yet?

    • The same thing is happening to me. I had gotten my date to be 2/18 and still nothing. Now all my bars are gone on irs.gov and it says my tax return has been received and is being processed!

  29. Well my refund was accepted on the 29th of January…..and Turbo Tax gave me a date of Feb, 20th for my return….Nothing yet..wow

  30. I filed my taxes at an H & R block office on Feb 6th. I received my state about five days after that. Im still waiting on my federal. The irs website still says “We have received your tax return and it is being processed and you should get your refund within 21 days from the date we received your tax return. It’s still on the first bar that says “return recieved.” Im annoyed with having to check the website everyday.

    • Yes u will still see a refund date with a message stating a offset. It will not provide any other info due to the IRS doesnt handle offsets unless its a tax debt. Having an offset does not delay your refund. Checking for debts is after a refund has been processed and scheduled for deposit. The IRS doesnt offset, The treasury dept handles that before they send the money. So when the irs approves a refund and sends to the Treasury, they get notification of a debt and basically just post that info to you. The treasury deposits all funds and withholds all debts.

  31. Update I just received my refund this morning I pray that everyone see their refund this year may you all have a blessed day 🙂

  32. i filed my fed and state on 01/31. It was accepted on 1/31 and has been saying processing ever since. I use wheres my refund. Should I be concerned. I don’t owe anything and turbo tax I should receive it before the 21st of feb. today is the 2oth and it still shows processing 🙁

  33. If uhh open a bank account the same day my refund was supposed to be deposited how long will it take for me to get it . Will it still come on that day I’ve already been approved

  34. Still so very frustrated filed 1/27 received 1/31. First showed the status as approved with ddd of 2/6. Than on 2/6 status changed to 1211. Now it continues to just say that refund processing. So frustrated because I am getting no answers and I can’t even get my transcripts!
    Ugh…I pray someone gets an answer to share with good news or at least someone says they got their refund who is just like me. Just need some positive news soon!

    • Normally when this happens you will get a refund in another week or so after the original date. The irs updates WMR on Sat, Wed, Thurs. for deposits on Wed Thur and Fri.

  35. Call the irs and now they are saying 21 days is not until te 26 of feb bc they don’t count weekends….they say that I guess bc people will e calling…ugghh

    • Filed with Turbo 2/5..had ddd of 2/20

      WMR never changed to show a sent date
      Recv’d reufnd at bank today 2/20 at 3 AM DD at Bank of America

      In TX, no state income tax

  36. I filed my taxes on Jan21 they were accepted on Jan 23 I have no bar showing and still says processing I will never use turbotax again this was my first and last time my h&r block advance was due to be paid down on the 15 of feb now I am being charged interest I am so beyond mad at this point!!!!

  37. So mad still check my status it’s still no bars still saying refund processing a date will be provided when available still can’t look up my transcript and they still have my old address in there I’m so missed of filed 1/31/14 ugh day 20 it will be 21 days tomorrow I have a feeling I will be calling them tomorrow

    • I am with you day 21 tomorrow mine hast moved I have no bars I called the 1800 no dedts due I filed 1/26 accepted 1/31 I called irs and they wont say shit till 21 days

  38. My refund was accepted on 2/5 and I have no date no nothing. It is still saying processing on the WMR. The turbo tax info is saying that my estimated refund date is 2/25. This is so crazy. I tried to get my transcript and I have a * by 2013 still. I haven’t gotten a letter or anything.

  39. For the individuals on here who have’nt got ddd mine is still showing processing i called the irs and they sending my ddd at 12:01 am friday morning i had the same problem last year i received my return and wmr said it is still processing

    • Mine was accepted January 31st and latest day to receive dd was today.Its still showing as processing! A friend of mine filed the day after me and received his refund a week ago!

    • When did you file? Mine is still saying processing and I filed on January 31, 2014. When I call the IRS they wont give me any information until Friday.

      • @gametime if you call and you get a nice person to talk to they will look it up for you the bad thing is about 90% of americans are rude when they are talking to people on the phone and noone wants to help them just be polite when you call and they will talk to you

      • Exactly!! I just wasted 28 min on hold and when she FINALLY picked up, she told me that it wont be the 21 days until tomm!!! So basically it was a total waste…I have never waited this long for my refund!! so frustrating!!   

      • Me to. So tired of waiting! I just got off the phone with the irs in she informed me that the people who filed early this year it is taking them a little longer to receive there rufunds. I filed the 23rd, got accepted the 28th, dd was before the 21st. Says still processing!

      • I agree with Thomas. You catch more flies with honey. Worst thing to do is blame the agent answering the phone.
        Make them want to help you. Kindness goes a long way. Don’t make up BS either..they’ve heard it all before. I’m a CSR for roadside. Person will say I’m trying not to be late for work if they can hurry, always wins out over person saying “they better get here in 5 mins”. Think about which would you be more willing to help.

    • How did you call the irs everytime I call it wont let me speak to anyone =( what number did you try? Ialso filled on the 31st and wheres my refund isnt telling me anything!

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