Tax Refunds Where’s My Tax Refund? How to Check Your Refund Status Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxLisa 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. 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 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 Previous Post Can You Deduct 401K Savings From Your Taxes? Next Post What is a Tax Bracket? 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” « Older Comments Newer Comments » Anybody that has filed a paper return and what an update would need to call the 1-800 number to get any status update! Please stay on them as I’m just getting paid a return from 2 years ago. They may have your return under review for 60 days at a time. I also mailed previous year return in February of 2018 and if I didn’t call to check on they stated it was received as of June 2018. I received notices in the mail pushing it out until February of 2019. At that point I had to get a tax advocate on my case to see what’s the hold up. Needless to say it’s may of 2019 and I’m just now getting my case rectified and my refund sent out. Reply So it’s not best to check the WMR online? Just call? Reply Hi Shanika, If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. If the return has been accepted then check the status of the tax refund via IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool, https://www.irs.gov/refunds. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount However, per the IRS; a phone representative can research the status of your refund if it’s been 21 days or more since you filed electronically or, more than 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return or if the Where’s My Refund? tool directs you to contact them. Thank you I e-file my taxes and have yet to find a status update on my refund. I e-file on March 29th 2019 through Intuit Turbotax. Where’s my refund? Reply Hi Miriam, Please first, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/ If the IRS accepted it, then you can check refund status with the IRS. TurboTax does not issue the refund. https://www.irs.gov/refunds Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you. Reply I filed my taxes on feb 14th but I mailed it probably 2 weeks after and now today , April 30th 2019 I haven’t received my taxes .. why is that ? Did my taxes get lost ? Reply Hi Taheed, If you filed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can check the status on the IRS website in: “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you Reply Its been over 4 weeks since i have mailed mine. But yet every time i go to check, it keeps telling md that my information doesnt match their records. But everything is entered exactly the way it is on the printed out copy of the return. What do i need to do? I mailed my taxes in the mail.How long should that take Reply Hi Glynis, If you mailed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can always check the status in: “Where’s My Refund?” on the IRS website. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you Reply Thank you very much for getting back to me I filed my taxes on February 19th and still haven’t received my tax refund. I’m not sure who to call or contact for this issue. Reply same! I filed electronically on Feb 28th and the status still shows its “being processed”. I’ve received nothing in the mail from IRS and all I get is their automated system when I call. Not sure what to do at this point.. Reply Same to both of you above! It’s been over a month now for me. AGHHHH Me too I filed feb 12 got a tax advocate last week we will see good luck Reply I filed my taxes about a month and half ago and the next day I recieved the rest of my w2 forms so when I went to add it, they told me I had to amend it to add the rest, I had to wait a couple weeks to finally amend it and I finally added it and I received the first part of my refund a couple weeks ago but the rest is just sitting in the tool bar. I wanna know when I’m getting that money and why it’s just sitting there Reply Hi Ashlee, Now that you have completed the 1040x Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, print, sign, and mail it. Amended returns are not available for e-filing. It takes about 8-12 weeks for the IRS to process it after they have received the amended tax return. Approximately, three weeks after your amendment is accepted, you can start tracking its status at the IRS Where’s My Amended Return? Also, please be aware that it can take 12-16 weeks to process your amendment and any refund that you may be expecting. Refunds are not available for Direct Deposit and will be mailed to the address submitted on the tax return. Thank you Reply How are refunds not available direct deposit and I received a TurboTax card?🤔 Reply Hello Keyonis, Your refund will not already be on your card. Cards are not active when mailed. You have to activate it then wait until the IRS issues your refund. TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer. Once your return has been accepted by the IRS, then you can track the status of your refund. The IRS issues all tax refunds. TurboTax does not issue the actual refund. If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. You may also check the status of the tax refund via IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thanks Reply Has anyone anywhere recieved any type of help from TurboTax or even the IRS? I recieved my tiny state refund but not my federal!! I filed the end of March and my status bar has been on approved the entire time. In fact the exact same day I E-Filed it has been on APPROVED. If I have recieved my state and not federal, why isn’t this shown as STATE TAX RETURNED instead of showing nothing but a status bar for what is missing and partially recieved!!! It is clear to me all of our status’ says the same things and we want/need answers. So if anyone anywhere has something for advice please send it. Appreciated . Reply I mailed off my tax return the middle of March and I am trying to go check the status of it through Where’s My Refund and it keeps saying the information you provided is not correct. please check your refund information. everything on there is correct what do I need to do. Reply Hello Alyssa, If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount as shown on your tax return Thanks Reply I have everything correct. But its still telling me that the information doesnt match. Reply I mailed my tax return March 14 April 2nd it was processing a week later I have no bar or no tax topic…. Hi Diana, If you filed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can always check the status in: “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you I am having the same problem. Were you to get in touch with someone ? What was the outcome? They mail my check on 4/12 how long will it take for me to receive Reply How long did it take you? When I check in the IRS “Where’s my refund tool”, it says it was sent for direct deposit on 4/3. It is now 4/8 and it is not showing in my account. What do I do?? Reply « Older Comments Newer Comments » Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Tax Refunds What To Expect When You’re Expecting…a Tax Refund Tax Refunds Where’s My Tax Refund?: IRS Has $153 Million in Undeliverable Tax Refunds Tax Refunds Where’s My Tax Refund? Tax News IRS Updates “Where’s My Refund?” Tax Tips Find Out When Your Tax Refund Will Be Sent Tax News IRS Opens E-file on January 23: Get A Jump on Your Tax Refund Announcements Where’s my refund? 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Anybody that has filed a paper return and what an update would need to call the 1-800 number to get any status update! Please stay on them as I’m just getting paid a return from 2 years ago. They may have your return under review for 60 days at a time. I also mailed previous year return in February of 2018 and if I didn’t call to check on they stated it was received as of June 2018. I received notices in the mail pushing it out until February of 2019. At that point I had to get a tax advocate on my case to see what’s the hold up. Needless to say it’s may of 2019 and I’m just now getting my case rectified and my refund sent out. Reply
Hi Shanika, If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. If the return has been accepted then check the status of the tax refund via IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool, https://www.irs.gov/refunds. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount However, per the IRS; a phone representative can research the status of your refund if it’s been 21 days or more since you filed electronically or, more than 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return or if the Where’s My Refund? tool directs you to contact them. Thank you
I e-file my taxes and have yet to find a status update on my refund. I e-file on March 29th 2019 through Intuit Turbotax. Where’s my refund? Reply
Hi Miriam, Please first, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/ If the IRS accepted it, then you can check refund status with the IRS. TurboTax does not issue the refund. https://www.irs.gov/refunds Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you. Reply
I filed my taxes on feb 14th but I mailed it probably 2 weeks after and now today , April 30th 2019 I haven’t received my taxes .. why is that ? Did my taxes get lost ? Reply
Hi Taheed, If you filed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can check the status on the IRS website in: “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you Reply
Its been over 4 weeks since i have mailed mine. But yet every time i go to check, it keeps telling md that my information doesnt match their records. But everything is entered exactly the way it is on the printed out copy of the return. What do i need to do?
Hi Glynis, If you mailed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can always check the status in: “Where’s My Refund?” on the IRS website. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you Reply
I filed my taxes on February 19th and still haven’t received my tax refund. I’m not sure who to call or contact for this issue. Reply
same! I filed electronically on Feb 28th and the status still shows its “being processed”. I’ve received nothing in the mail from IRS and all I get is their automated system when I call. Not sure what to do at this point.. Reply
I filed my taxes about a month and half ago and the next day I recieved the rest of my w2 forms so when I went to add it, they told me I had to amend it to add the rest, I had to wait a couple weeks to finally amend it and I finally added it and I received the first part of my refund a couple weeks ago but the rest is just sitting in the tool bar. I wanna know when I’m getting that money and why it’s just sitting there Reply
Hi Ashlee, Now that you have completed the 1040x Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, print, sign, and mail it. Amended returns are not available for e-filing. It takes about 8-12 weeks for the IRS to process it after they have received the amended tax return. Approximately, three weeks after your amendment is accepted, you can start tracking its status at the IRS Where’s My Amended Return? Also, please be aware that it can take 12-16 weeks to process your amendment and any refund that you may be expecting. Refunds are not available for Direct Deposit and will be mailed to the address submitted on the tax return. Thank you Reply
Hello Keyonis, Your refund will not already be on your card. Cards are not active when mailed. You have to activate it then wait until the IRS issues your refund. TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer. Once your return has been accepted by the IRS, then you can track the status of your refund. The IRS issues all tax refunds. TurboTax does not issue the actual refund. If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. You may also check the status of the tax refund via IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thanks Reply
Has anyone anywhere recieved any type of help from TurboTax or even the IRS? I recieved my tiny state refund but not my federal!! I filed the end of March and my status bar has been on approved the entire time. In fact the exact same day I E-Filed it has been on APPROVED. If I have recieved my state and not federal, why isn’t this shown as STATE TAX RETURNED instead of showing nothing but a status bar for what is missing and partially recieved!!! It is clear to me all of our status’ says the same things and we want/need answers. So if anyone anywhere has something for advice please send it. Appreciated . Reply
I mailed off my tax return the middle of March and I am trying to go check the status of it through Where’s My Refund and it keeps saying the information you provided is not correct. please check your refund information. everything on there is correct what do I need to do. Reply
Hello Alyssa, If you have an IRS acknowledgement then they are processing the return. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount as shown on your tax return Thanks Reply
I mailed my tax return March 14 April 2nd it was processing a week later I have no bar or no tax topic….
Hi Diana, If you filed a paper return the processing time is longer. Per the IRS, “Please allow 4 weeks before checking the status.” You can always check the status in: “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Please note you will need the following information when checking on your refund status: Social security number or ITIN Your filing status Your exact refund amount Thank you
When I check in the IRS “Where’s my refund tool”, it says it was sent for direct deposit on 4/3. It is now 4/8 and it is not showing in my account. What do I do?? Reply