Where’s My Tax Refund How to Check Your Refund Status (1440 × 600 px)
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Where’s My Tax Refund? How to Check Your Refund Status

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  • Published Feb 12, 2024 - [Updated Mar 30, 2024]
  • 4 min read

The average direct deposit tax refund was close to $3,100 last tax season, and with tax season well underway, it’s no surprise that the most common tax season-related question we’re now hearing is: “Where’s my refund?”

The time it takes the IRS to process your tax refund is based on how you chose to file your tax return – either e-file or by mail.

  • E-filed tax returns with direct deposit: E-file with direct deposit is the fastest way to get your federal tax refund. Typically, the IRS expects to issue most tax refunds within 21 days after acceptance if there are no issues.
  • Mailed paper returns: Avoiding a paper return is more important than ever to avoid refund delays, if possible. The IRS cautions if you need your refund quickly do not file on paper. Usually, the IRS says to allow 4 weeks before checking the status of your refund, and that refund processing can take 6 to 8 weeks from the date the IRS receives your return.    
Close-up of a man taking a picture of a paper check to upload to the bank.

Tax Refund Processing

  • Start checking status 24 – 48 hours after e-file: Once you have e-filed your tax return, you can check your status using the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool. You will need your Social security number or ITIN, your filing status, and your exact refund amount. 
  • 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 need the following information when checking refund status: Social security number or ITIN, your filing status, and your exact federal tax refund amount shown on the tax return. You will not see a tax refund date until the IRS finishes processing your tax return and approves your tax refund.
  • 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.” The change in status can take a few days, and a tax refund date will not be provided in Where’s My Refund? until your tax return is processed and your tax refund is approved.
  • Where’s My Refund? tool shows refund date: The IRS will provide a personalized refund date once your status moves to “Refund Approved.” 
  • Where’s My Refund? shows “Refund Sent”: 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 opted to receive your tax refund via mail, it could take several weeks for your check to arrive.
Track your refund in TurboTax

 You could experience delays in receiving your tax refund if your return:

  • Includes errors – The IRS has indicated that your refund could be delayed if the information you provided on your tax return does not match the IRS records. 
  • Is incomplete – If you didn’t have all of your documents and filed an inaccurate return
  • Needs further review in general
  • Is affected by identity theft or fraud
  • Includes Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit – Under the Path Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund that includes the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit before mid-February.
  • Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
Close-up of a woman checking her bank account.

Tax Refund Status FAQ

Will I see a date right away when I check the status in “Where’s My Refund”? 

The IRS Where’s My Refund? tool will not give you a date until your tax return is received, and 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 include incomplete information, an error, or the IRS may need to review it further.

I requested my money be automatically deposited into my bank account, but I was mailed a check. What happened?

The IRS is limiting the number of direct deposits that go into a single bank account or prepaid debit card to three tax refunds per year. Your limit may have been exceeded. In addition, for a small number of returns, the IRS decides there may be indications that the bank account on the return is suspicious and they may decide to issue a check instead.

Track your refund in TurboTax
Lisa Greene-Lewis
Lisa Greene-Lewis

Written by Lisa Greene-Lewis

Lisa has over 20 years of experience in tax preparation. Her success is attributed to being able to interpret tax laws and help clients better understand them. She has held positions as a public auditor, controller, and operations manager. Lisa has appeared on the Steve Harvey Show, the Ellen Show, and major news broadcast to break down tax laws and help taxpayers understand what tax laws mean to them. For Lisa, getting timely and accurate information out to taxpayers to help them keep more of their money is paramount. More from Lisa Greene-Lewis

Follow Lisa Greene-Lewis on Twitter.

2,010 responses to “Where’s My Tax Refund? How to Check Your Refund Status”

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  1. Did my taxes get filed or not? I checked on my refund, as your email told me to do, and it says my return was rejected. I paid you $40, what is going on?

    Reply

  2. Got Federal Tax approved and refund right away. Still waiting on PA State tax. It was approved, but no refund deposited.

    Reply

  4. So Turbo Tax screwed up. Got letter from IRS stating that I need to do a Form 8962 concerning my medical. As I am doing this form this morning it was stating put on line so and so on form 1040 which Turbo Tax should of known and completed when we did my taxes. Very angry filed on 2/7/19 and 6 weeks later a form from IRS, Got State in 5 days and now this. Grrrrr and want to charge me money for incomplete tax forms.

    Reply

  5. I / turbo tax efiled mine 1/24/19 still haven’t got it in the mail , & irs is saying wrong info., please someone help me on what 2 do next. Thx n Blessed day Y’all! !! ClnChico 2

    Reply

    • U have to put ur federal tax amount only on Where’s my Refund ! I put my total in ( state and federal ) it said the samething … then someone told me to enter only federal amount and the info changed

      Reply

  6. I filed the end of January and have not received either of my refunds! Never took this long before…. Keeps telling me, printed ready to mail

    Reply

  7. Received an email they are going to take 39.99 from my bank account because my taxes didnt come yet. Which is stupid it was suppose to be taken out my taxes but because its late they want to take the money now. not going to happen that wasnt what I signed up for turbo tax your going to wait like I have to

    Reply

  8. I filed on turbo tax I didn’t do efile I did paper do I have to print them and send the somewhere because it’s been 4 weeks I checked the status and nothing first time doing it by myself so please help

    Reply

    • Yes if you didn’t efile you chose to mail them in. So print your forms & mail to the irs. You can google what address to send your tax return to. But why wouldn’t you efile? It’s so much faster. Hope this helps.

      Reply

  9. I recieved my state but not my federal I called my local IRS and they stated they cant give me any information about where my refund is. I’ve never had this issue before what is going on??

    Reply

    • I filed early February and I still haven’t received my refund. Every time I try to go into “ where’s my refund” it keeps saying the same thing. That it is still being processed and there is not date. I got an email from turbo tax billing me bc I have not yet received my taxas which they were suppose to take it out from there. It has never taken me this long to receive my refunds.

      Reply
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