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. I’m kind of relieve to know that there’s a lot of people who seem to be waiting for their federal refund longer than 21 days. My e-file was accepted on March 3rd and I got my CA state refund in a week or so but I still haven’t got my federal back. The IRS refund status says “Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available.” I will give it another week or so and maybe try calling them…

    Reply

    • I received the same info on my account also
      Finally 6 weeks after my refund had been ccwoted I received a letter by mail from the irs stating that I had to verify my identity. It took about a week and multiple phone calls to get my identity verified only to b told that now it going to be another 9 weeks before I can receive my refund, I believe the date is May 31. I filed my taxes on February 8th. And how it was explained to me was “ because I had to go through the process of verifying my identity that my refund is now no longer considered an e-filed return it is now considered a paper return so I have to wait the additional 9 weeks from the time that got everything verified before I will get my return. I filed early because I have a son graduating this year and I’m a single mom of two teenage boys. Paying for all his stuff this year has been hard enough and I planned ahead and filed early to make sure I could get my return back in time to finish paying for the last of his graduation supplies,prom etc… only to now b told that I want even get my return back until two weeks after he graduates. It’s makibg things very difficult financially right now. And keep in mind when ask why they were having to verify my identity no one could answer me, no one knows why. I didn’t mess up on my tax return nothing was changed on my return when they finished asking me a bunch of questions, so it’s through no fault of mine but yet I’m the one who is having to put what to do now. And at this point there is nothing else to do because I’m all out of resources right now. They have all been exhausted already.
      So sorry to vent, hope u have better luck than I did

      Reply

      • You’re able to call the irs and request a tax advocate. Tell them you’re in a financial hardship. The advocate can see exactly what’s going on. They will help process your return faster. I filed both 2017 and 2018 together. A letter can back saying I need to verify my identity. I had to answer some questions over the phone. U thought I was cleared! Nope! Got another letter saying the irs wants to verify my employment. They asked for a company letterhead and a statement. The advocate faxed this to the irs department that handles this. Now, my check is finally on the way. I waited over three months. I suggest anyone that can’t check their status to ask for an advocate ASAP! Or else you’ll be waiting longer

  3. Since no one ever replies back with an update, I will let you know how it went when I filed my taxes for a refund. I filed a basic return; no kids and not married. I filed on 3-11-19 and was accepted on 3-14-19. I was approved on 3-24-19 and got a direct deposit date for 3-27-19. Today, the 27th, I got the direct deposit. It took a total of 16 days from when I was accepted to when I got my refund. This might not be the case with everyone, but mine came relatively quickly in terms of the IRS. When I got my refund wasn’t a big deal for me, I wasn’t depending on the money for anything. Many years ago that wasn’t the case so I know how important it is because some of you are counting/depending on the money. I hope my case with regards to how quickly I got my refund helps some of you at ease.

    Reply

    • I had a direct deposit date 3 27 19 also never received nothing I had a offset which they took their portion but what happen to the rest of my refund they said it was sent to the bank and I called my bank and they haven’t receive nothing yet with a offset it should only take a few additional day keep in my it says refund sent on the 27 at 10pm I got the refund went now how much longer I’m sick of this

      Reply

  7. My state says my refund was sent March 21, I got my card today, March 25, and there is no money on it when I activated it..any idea why?

    Reply

  9. We have an amended tax return for 2017, it was filed in December of 2018; as of March 25th we have not heard a word from the IRS. The Turbo-Tax reference# is 432801273, can you get any information?

    Reply

  10. I received a letter from IRS wanting more information to support the amount of entry 13714.00 on line 16 of form 1040. I have receipts for 9000.00 the Turbo form said that I could claim 13714.00 so I marked it…..can you contact me on some questions I have
    Thank you

    Reply
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