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 on Jan 31st got accepted today and have a ddd of Feb 10th so idk if it can be earlier or later I’ve never direct deposited before ?

    • Ally, where did u get the edd date from. I filed on the 28 and was accepted on the 29 but all I can see is it’s being processed.

  2. DEFINATELY not first come first serve. I filed mine on the 16th and was accepted on the 24th. Still shows first bar…accepted and mine is not that complicated. I called IRS and i owe nothing from prev years and nothing seems incorrect… he couldnt tell me anymore. Did anyone file early like me with an early acceptance date and stilll waiting?????

      • Yes I filed on 01/24 and got accepted on 01/28 and still no ddd some people that filed later then me received theirs today 02/06. I dont know why i thought it would be first come first serve but i guess not! Dont worry your not the only one.

    • They issue another date on Sunday night. You should be soon. I was also accepted on the 24th and up until Monday I had one bar…then it disappeared and all I saw was a message saying it was still processing. Then last night I was able to order transcripts and this morning I was given the 10th for deposit. Try to order your transcripts Sunday evening. If the system lets you then you will mostb likely get a date on Monday morning. I know it is stressful! Now I’m just curious if my return was adjusted for some reason? Hmmm.

      • I filed on the 30th and it was accepted that night. Previously it showed me the bar that it was accepted but now the bar has gone away and it just says it is processing and a refund date will be given when one is available. Is that what you got as well?

      • Yes. I filed early January and got accepted on the 24th with one bar…it stayed that way until the 3rd then switched to “we are still processing your return….” with no bars. Then on Wednesday the 5th around 11pm eastern time I was finally able to order transcripts. I got a dd the next morning for 2/10. Hope this helps:)

    • I filed on 1/19 had them accepted on 1/28 and still not approved yet. My state have already been approved but not my federal. My neighbor filed hers on 2/3 and today got a direct deposit date of 2/10, I was so aggravated, grrr. I should have waited until after the 31st to file.

    • Only a limited amount of returns were accepted AND processed early and they had to meet very strict guidelines testing each portion of the system. Not everyone was processed the same time

    • I filed the17th Jan, it was accepted Jan 26th and has been processing ever since. What the hell. Mine is not complicated either. Really frustrated because friends filed after me and have their DD or even their refund.

    • Yes. I also filed early and was accepted. I have not received my refund yet. I did my sister’s taxes a full week later and she got hers today.

    • Same here. I filed 1/23 and accepted on 1/27 and still just one bar. Normally I receive my refund by now; well, in previous years.

    • Mine too! I filed on the 25th, and ours was accepted on the 27th, but the bar on the irs took says it still hasn’t been approved and there’s no movement. I know several people who filed the 1st and later, and they’ve already received their refund! It’s so frustrating! I hate being in limbo and having no answers!

    • I filed on the 19th accepted on the 26th and I’m still on the first bar as well. I cant get through to anyone on the phone. what number did you dial and what prompts did you press to speak to a live person

    • i filed on the 18th and it was accepted immedietely too and said the 6th. I had mine put on a walmart money card. when i called this morning they said that they had an overwelming amount come through last night and had to bring people in to fix the problem , but it would be fixed today and our direct deposits would go through. i soooo needed that today!! I also have a friend that was suppose to receive her federal school money no later then last night and she has not received that either!!! so my guess is there is no answer other then the financial institutions are overwelmed last night. you know i never had an issue untill they started this january 31st thing last year!!! I would file on turbo tax and get my refund the next friday with in 7 to 10 days. this is year 2 this has been a mess and now we r left wondering and it looks like i have lied to everyone about when i can pay them. everyone just take a deep breath and lets all think positive and wish for our money this afernoon and make it happen!!!!

      • and i have a cleaning business and clean for the IRS in our town!!! lol and no one there knows a thing. just wanted to tell all of u that are discouragd u cant talk to someone with a pulse lmao!!! i have and they dont have a clue either.

      • Hey, I’m using the Walmart money card way as well. Mine was scheduled for today 2/6 and it did not come. I hope it comes tomorrow, If you happen to come on here can you let me know if you have any problems with the money card way or if you received it yet please! This is the first time I have used the money card and am kinda worried, and it’s nice to know you are using the same method and if you can get back to me that would be great

      • If you have fees deducted by turbo tax then based on the Santa Barbara Tax Group times of releasing them you may not see it posted until 12 midnight. I just called the bank

      • Go to Santa Barbara Tax Groups Website there you can view your account information. It will tell if the irs has sent your refund, Santa Barbara is charged with paying any fees and then they will deposit your money into your account. They are behind and so is the irs.
        It will take some time for everyone to receive their refunds this year. I hope this helps.

      • IMPORTANT INFORMATION

        Taxpayers please be aware that there has been a slight delay in IRS funding, impacting clients of Tax Products Group and banks industry-wide!

        If the IRS website indicates that your refund will be available February 6th, funds will not be available until February 7th due to the IRS releasing funds one day later than expected. Taxpayers expecting their refund on the 6th by direct deposit will now likely receive their refund on the 7th. Please be assured that Tax Products Group will disburse funds immediately as they are received from the IRS.

      • Biggmoney are you talking state return or federal? Because I just talked to federal irs and they are getting a lot of called because of the where is my refund being unavailable. But still have my DD as today 2/6

      • Hi I am taking Federal. The irs just processes your return and then Santa Barbara takes out necessary fees and processes the direct deposit. Santa Barbara tax groups website will show if they have received your refund yet. If it will take Long time Santa Barbara will overnight your refund check to you

      • Santa Barbara has more than just turbo tax under the belt as far as who has fee’s deducted thru them. I know in talking to my aunt who works at the Irs building in Richmond,VA most who had a dd for today will see it today and tomorrow but the IRS is being bombarded with people who just filed Friday. The actual turn around time frame for tax refund has been 1 to 2 weeks and thats just to have the refund approved. But if the DD was today your refund was sent out by the IRS today. They can’t afford to delay. The rest is up to the bank

      • Thanks Monique

        I will contact my bank again later today. iRS said that it will be sent to my banco today and I’m hoping. We are going on a weeknd get away Friday they Sunday so I hope it gets in there today so we can leave right away Friday morning.

    • I contacted the bank where the money is comeing from and they said they sent them out and now it can take 1-5 days to get your money

    • Still dont have mine either and i had feb 6th for a deposit date.. its 2:00 i just want to know what time today or is Wells Fargo holding it..?

    • I was supposed to have mine today and our bank rejected the deposit and supposedly sent it back due to the fact that my name is not on my husband’s Walmart MoneyCard. Now I have to wait until they send me a paper check. This will happen to my state refund as well.

      • No, go to the Santa bars area tax group website and Put in your in your information, there number is in their website, they will overnight a check for you, it’s late in the day so you will probably receive is staturdwy

    • If u log in on the Santa Barbara tax group site it says all refunds that were due today will be delayed until tomorrow because irs issued the money a day late so check the site for your info and it will tell u what happened.

  3. I submitted my return e-file last week and it was accepted on 1/30/14. Ever sense the 1/30/14 when I check the “where’s my refund” irs site it still says “Refund accepted”. This has been for a week now. And when I call an automated lady says that they can’t answer my my questions at this time. This is really weird? What is going on with the IRS System? Does anybody know?

    • I filed on 01/29/14 IRS got it on 01/30/14 along with my daughter’s through turbo tax. My daughter received her refund yesterday on a Net spend card. On WMR site I’m still at received and have not moved to step 2. I don’t get it! I signed up for direct diposit; furthermore, you can’t speak to a real person at the IRS I have tried several numbers and am not getting anyway, who can you talk too?

  4. I filed 2/1/14 accepted same day. I got my dd today 2/10/14! I used Taxact same as last year I always get my refund back very fast!!

    • laureneC
      I filed on the 3rd & was accepted that same day. I still haven’t been approved or have a DD yet, however.
      Did you move to approved before you received your DDD? Or did both happen on the same day (today)

  5. Efiled on 1/23. Fed accepted on 01/28 and State accepted on 2/3. On WMR and 1-800 number message is the same…”still processing”. Thought I would have had a ddd of 2/6, but nothing yet. Just trying to be patient with IRS!!!!!

  6. Hey guys i think i found something. Go to this website and type in your info like on the IRS website and this message pops up for the people who were supposed to get their money today. it also has detailed info so check it out.

    https://cisc.sbtpg.com

    If the IRS website indicates that your refund will be available February 6th, funds will not be available until February 7th due to the IRS releasing funds one day later than expected. Taxpayers expecting their refund on the 6th by direct deposit will now likely receive their refund on the 7th. Please be assured that Tax Products Group will disburse funds immediately as they are received from the IRS.

  7. My DD was suppose to be today I still dnt have it in my bank irs said it was sent to Turbo tax account and they should have DD it in my account today.

  8. If the IRS website indicates that your refund will be available February 6th, funds will not be available until February 7th due to the IRS releasing funds one day later than expected. Taxpayers expecting their refund on the 6th by direct deposit will now likely receive their refund on the 7th. Please be assured that Tax Products Group will disburse funds immediately as they are received from the IRS.

  9. Sent mine via TT efile on the 30th and was accepted on the 31st. Just got my DD date today for the 10th. I was able to order transcripts and transfer information for the FASFA yesterday. Mine was a simple file…Married filing jointly w/2 children and single income. I took no other deductions this year. We let our daughter take the school credits. They sure are quick to take our money but slow to give it back. You would think that as long as the IRS has been around they would have this process streamlined already.

  10. I also was supposed to receive my tax refund today on the 6th but it hasn’t reached my bank yet. My bank processes electronic deposits immediately but has anyone here used efile? I am wondering because I had my fees automatically deducted and am wondering if that is why I haven’t received my refund yet…I hope I get it today

  11. My dd date was today also last time I checked web site it’s still say approved with today’s date I just tried to call automated system and it say due to tech difficulties they can’t answer call nor could I check status tried app and online same thing . I don’t understand how come they have so many issues .

  12. I filed on the 31st and accepted the same day. My sister filed hers like 10 minutes after me. She got ddd for today and I finally got a ddd day this morning. It scheduled for the 10th. I don’t understand why the difference in ddds … Also I still can’t see my transcript on the app

  13. so if my dd is today does that mean i will get it sometime today or tomorrow?? please let me know i am a single mother and i file early so i could get my money as soon as possible thanks!!!

  14. My return was accepted on January 29th and it still hasnt been approved and it’s been over a week. Anyone else having this problem? It usually never takes this long and i do it on turbo tax every year

    • I got accepted on January 29 still no ddd wmr still on first bar… last year I didnt have this problem and I recieved my deposit on a Sunday….

  15. Guys relax a little. Just because it says your DD is today it doesn’t mean it will be there first thing in the morning. Be patient, as I am sure the IRS is overwhelmed with returns and requests for deposit dates. If your deposit date is today and you still don’t have your money a week from now then be concerned. Until then, relax!

  16. FILE ON THE 31, GOT ACCEPTED THE SAME DAY LIKE AT 12:01PM MOUNTAIN TIME AND I CHECK TODAY LIKE AT 5:33AM AND I GOT A DDD FOR 2/10/14.

  17. I had a dd date of 02/06/14. It says approved but not sent. Did anybody elses do that and they still recieved theirs today. I see where people are starting to get theirs today

  18. Good Morning everyone its 8:02 am on 02/06/2014, California time. I e-filed on January 27th, got accepted by the IRS on January 29th, got a DD Date of 02/06/2014. I just checked with the website Santa Barbara Tax Products Group, to see if the IRS Direct Deposited my refund to them cause I had my fees taken out of my refund check and “YES” “YES” “YES” my tax refund has been sent by the IRS and Direct Deposited today 02/06/2014. Hope this was able to help some of you! Have a Great Day!!!

  19. My dd date is for today, the 6th.. Never got my money. Called my bank & they said they don’t even see where it’s pending.. Has anyone else got there return?

  20. My DDD is today and SBBT website just received my return from the IRS about 10:40am this morning. The site says my return will be deposited to my bank via ACH the next business day. I’m guessing I won’t see it till tomorrow then.

    • Just as I submitted my post my trace number popped up that the ACH payment was made to my bank! It’s 11:04AM in FL! Going to check my bank site now! =)

    • A HUGE box popped up on the SBBT site saying the IRS has experienced some delay so if you are scheduled to receive your return on 2/6/14 it will be a day later on 2/7/14. At least I know it’s there! =)

  21. I have a dd date of 2/6. Keep checking my bank account and not there yet. But I checked Santa Barbara Tax Product Group website and checked “my account” and they received it! Taking that as progress so hopefully will be in my bank account later or tomorrow! If you have TT take your fees out of your refund it goes to SBTPG first. It must have just posted because I checked ten minutes before that and it wasn’t there! Good Luck everyone!!!

  22. Hello all,

    I had a direct deposit date of today, 2.6.14 as well and I haven’t received mines yet either. I had 5 friends who were supposed to get theirs today too and they all got theres.

    Can those who are still waiting on theirs to be deposited today update us when you receive yours? It comforts me that I am not the only one but not enough because I don’t have my money. I bank with Citibank and all of my friends bank with Chase. I wonder if the bank you are with makes a difference as well..

    Keep me posted and I will do the same

  23. I did my taxes on Jan 31st and they were both accepted the same day. My status never changed on either of them from “accepted” to “approved” and I never got a DDD but woke up this morning with both of them deposited in my account!!!

  24. you guys need to be patient. There are a lot of returns processing, and everyone has a different processing date depending upon the complexity of the return. You should receive your refund within 21 days of filing unless you get a notice that your return was incomplete or something. Last year I got my refund 10 days after I filed. If all of us are trying to get refund status at the same time, the system locks up. I think it is ridiculous that people are expecting their refunds within a week of filing. It clearly says on IRS website that it can take 21 days to receive refund. Be patient everyone!

    • I found this information online that may be helpful to you all. Have a blessed day. (Sorry for lashing out earlier, I know we all need our money, but we need to be patient.) Kindest regards,

      2014 Tax Refund Schedule Chart
      Date Taxes Filed Direct Deposit Date Paper Check Date
      Between Jan 28 and Feb 3, 2014 Feb 13, 2014 Feb 21, 2014
      Feb 4 and Feb 10, 2014 Feb 21, 2014 Feb 24, 2014
      Feb 11 and Feb 17, 2014 Feb 28, 2014 Mar 3, 2014
      Feb 18 and Feb 24, 2014 Mar 7, 2014 Mar 10, 2014
      Feb 25 and Mar 3, 2014 Mar 14, 2014 Mar 17, 2014
      Mar 4 and Mar 10, 2014 Mar 21, 2014 Mar 24, 2014
      Mar 11 and Mar 17, 2014 Mar 28, 2014 Mar 31, 2014
      Mar 18 and Mar 24, 2014 Apr 4, 2014 Apr 7, 2014
      Mar 25 and Mar 31, 2014 Apr 11, 2014 Apr 14, 2014
      Apr 1 and Apr 7, 2014 Apr 18, 2014 Apr 21, 2014
      Apr 8 and Apr 14, 2014 Apr 25, 2014 Apr 28, 2014
      Apr 15 and Apr 21, 2014 May 2, 2014 May 5, 2014
      Apr 22 and Apr 28, 2014 May 9, 2014 May 12, 2014

  25. I filed 1/30 got accepted 1/02… And still processing and not able to order return transcript. Hoping I don’t have the same luck as last year and get takin to further review. Last year it took 4 weeks to get a dd date.

  26. My direct deposit date is today and the WMR site says that it was supposed to be sent today but says it has not been sent yet. Will it still be sent?

  27. My dd date was for today it’s not there and the site doesn’t say it’s sent either so did anyone who got a dd date for today get there’s? Just curious

  28. Everyone I know that had a direct deposit for the 6th that did taxes with turbo tax have yet to receive money at 10am but hr vlock and other tax people did. Anyone file with turbo tax and receive their money yet?

  29. Hi everyone! I filed on 02/01/14 and was accepted 02/02/14 and as of this morning I have a direct deposit date of 02/10/14.

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