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Where’s My Tax Refund How to Check Your Refund Status (1440 × 600 px)
Where’s My Tax Refund How to Check Your Refund Status (411 x 600)

Where’s My Tax Refund? How to Check Your Refund Status

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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.

 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 CreditUnder 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.

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

  1. Finally! I sent mine 2/4 and was accepted that day. I finally received a dd date today for this Friday. I fist noticed something was happening when my transcript said my refund was approved. 2 days later WMR updated. So I hope this helps for you who are like me and check everyday. Check the irs transcript first!

  2. I filed in January and I got my federal return in 7 days but my state still hasn’t come in and it’s been over 3 weeks and I’m getting very frustrated!!!! My friend did her taxes when I did mine and she got both her state and her federal in within a week of filing…..not happy!!!

    • There has been a lot of fraudulent returns and identity theft going on in some states causing them then shut down processing refunds for a few weeks! Check your states revenue website and see if your state was affected. I’m from Illinois and they just started excepting and processing returns Feb 13th & wont expect refunds to go out till Feb 25th (the earliest). So id suggest you definitely check your states revenue website for any news about tax filing, you maybe suprised. Its been all over the news as well ( i know im not a news type person either) 🙂

  3. My fiancée filed using TUrbo 26th accepted 27th he is getting his state back 19th WMR keeps saying “processing” he lost the bars weeks ago, I filed using H&R block 31st & excepted 31st I received my state back 13th my federal too says “processing” I too lost the bars weeks ago. Everyone has got their refunds back but us. 17th will be 21 days for him 21st will be 21 days for me. I’m so upset!

  4. My refund was sent and accepted on 1/27/15. Last weekend (2/7/15) the bars disappeared and I have a message that says still processing. No tax topic number, no instructions. The 21st day of waiting will be tomorrow 2/16/15 – should I bother calling? There has not been an update since the bars disappeared and I’m starting to get really annoyed, especially since I paid turbotax fees up front.

    • I am pissed bc the irs line is busy can’t talk to nobody. Accepted on 1/27 and says to receive by 2/17 but never received a ddd and it went from the bar as accepted to your refund is processing since 1/29! I can’t be this….

  5. I did received my State refund and I am waiting for the Federal return, that usually comes in the mail one or two weeks after. I am surprised that I received the State return so quickly, even when the news report in the State of Minnesota was saying that the state taxes filled with Turbo Tax was going to be returned and not accepted, so what ever was the issue I guess was resolved, thank you for your great services, this is my second year with your company and I am happy with the results so far.

  6. I filed on January 25th…IRS accepted on the 26th…still says being processed. Could I please get a update on when I will receive my refund??? Very frustrated!!

    • If it states “refund is processing/still processing” that’s pretty much what’s going on. If you don’t have anything stating something else its just waiting it out now. I filed 1/29 with accepted. Found out i was accepted on 1/30, started with one bar with all other areas in tact (SSN, refund amount, etc) to no bar & refund processing, to refund still processing to no refund amount gone & with tax topic 152 showing. So I finally called on day 22, 25 & 26 (3 different responses) So 2-25, called Nat’l Tax Advocate….”It is in processing, he’d be more than welcome to assign me a personal rep but they will not be able to do anything until processing is complete bcz it won’t speed processing up but all was in tact, no errors & I have a projected direct deposit day in the IRS system for 3-9, most likely it will be released before that….. so fingers x’d & hope this shed light for some

  7. I did my taxes with turbotax on jan 22 and irs accepted on the same day they gave me a date jan 23 to feb 12 still nothing what to do. my wife passed away dec 27 and I need the money to pay our bills I got my state last sat direct deposit everone else I know who didnt use turbotax got theres

  8. I filed on January 27th…IRS accepted on the 28th…still says being processed. My boyfriend filed on the 23rd of January and had his return in the bank by Feb 4th. I don’t understand what is taking so long. Very frustrating!

    • Same thing is happening to us my boyfriend filed on 26th accepted on 27th it’s now feb 15th and he is still getting a processing from IRS. His state came back already so his return is fine. Everyone keeps telling us wait longer.

  9. Never got response to my billing questions called numerous times no answer disappointed in turbo tax been loyal customer for years may not be a return client.

      • Okay, I’ve got an update! I filed my return on 1/20/15, I was accepted the same day. I waited almost 21 days for my status to go from processing to approved. It gave me a date it would be sent out, it said it will be sent out on 2/13/15, and officially on the 13, it went from approved to sent. As of today 2/17/15, I finally received my check! (I wanted my check in mail, opposed to direct deposit). I was worried for a good minute there, but I had faith. It took me this long, and I didn’t use turbo tax, but instead used tax act. I also know many others who used Jackson Hewitt, h&r block who didn’t receive their refunds for a long time.. So blaming turbo tax isn’t the way to do this. They do not control the time it takes for the IRS to process returns. There were a good number of cut backs to the IRS this year, and I can only assume this is the reason for such a big delay. You will get your return, even if it takes longer than what you expexpected. Good luck to all.

      • I rec’d an e-mail from irs saying there was a problem. I clicked on your i-con. It asked for info
        that I did not have. where do I go from here?

  10. I am trying to find out why i didnt get the whole refund amount i was suppose to get for my state refund. I was suppose to get $188 but i only got $114??? Can anyone help me find out why and where the rest of the refund went to??

    • Hi Brittany,
      There may have been an adjustment to your refund. There also may be adjustments for any state debts owed. You should receive a notice from your state department of revenue.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

  11. On top of cut backs in IRS agency, theirs been millions of dollars of fraud going on. So pretty sure they got to make sure you are who you claim to be. Also probably got to make sure you have medical insurance since its required by law to have it….thanks to president obama. Many reasons why your tax returns are slow

  12. Oh my god! I thought I was alone!!!! I filed mine and my roommates on Turbo and he got his direct deposit in 7 days! I chose what they said was fastest that stupid card and now I’m in proccess mode with IRS…it now state they have no info and it seems to say I mailed in my return and I should wait 21 days???? what’s up with this????

  13. I was told my return would be deposited on my NetSpend (or whatever the card option is called) sometime between the 11th and 17th and the Federal return was actually deposited on the 10th but I still have not received the State return and I have been scoured the internet for a reason or a phone number to call with no luck.

  14. Watch the news from time to time. They cut IRS funding. That leads to layoffs, cutbacks, etc. Millions of people sending in for tax returns and not enough workers.

  15. I filed feb 5th late they was exepted 6th.then approved yesterday the 11th and gave me a send date of 15th.then when i looked today it said would be sent tomorrow the 13th so im confussed on when they are sending it

  16. Really Turbo Tax……you delete my comment for complaining about not getting a return call as promised. UNPROFESSIONAL! Will not be using Turbo again!!

      • I’ve been checking my status and it’s still processing with related tax issue 152. ITS DIRECT deposit. I already set it up with turbo tax. Why are they asking this? It was accepted on 2/3 late night but no payment yet.. I did my friends taxes on TT his already hit his acct….
        am I missing something?

      • I fill Feb 3 And was accepted the same day I have seen any changes since on the Web site nor has my transcript change it has all zeroes can you please help me understand this

  17. I have friends who filed using different online free e-files and they received their returns within 7 days. Their must be a glitch with turbo tax’s submissions and IRS is manually processing returns. Not cool!!!

    • Hi,
      There are TurboTax customers that have received their tax refunds and there are also people who have commented here that prepared using other methods that have not received their tax refunds yet. Everyone’s situations are different.
      Thank you,
      Lisa Greene-Lewis

      • Well look at the customers that have use TT and have gotten nothing I was accepted 30Jan2015 1030am and it is now 16Feb2015 and it still shows processing my tax situations has not changed in 10 years other than in changes with cost of living. Seems a little off to me. Look like I am not going to hear anything until after my 21 days.

      • Why do you keep saying this? This is a VERY GENERIC answer that really doesn’t even answer the questions asked.

  18. same here with same situation i filed jan 22nd accepted within 10 minutes not approved yet after 3 weeks stuck on processing,.got thru to live agent she said still processing under more review but didnt say why,. never had this problem before and filed same way for the last 7 years,.she also said if they need more info they will mail me reason,.or it could get processed after review,.and i should wait 4-6 weeks but could call back after 4 weeks and they could look further into it .,if i recvd no mail or no money,.frustrated to no ends with taxes this year just unbelievable!!! there is nothing different on mine except exempt on obama care,.bcuz i didnt make full time til june and my work didnt offer heath care until november so it exempt me,,.

    • they told me the same thing last week , I checked where’s my refund this week just to see and it now says been approved and will be deposited by the 19th , so keep checking , mine was also accepted on 1/22 I called and spoke to someone last Thursday he told me 4-8 weeks because I was selected for further review

    • Same with us filed 26th accepted 27th it’s now feb 15th and we’re stuck on processing were calling irs Tuesday (will be 21 days) don’t u just love the IRS!!

  19. I filed an after I filed my state it said my refund was 3000$ after I filed my federal they both popped up n it said it was 0$ state n 145$ federal what happened it said it was approved both of them now it’s saying 0$

  20. I had filed on the 25th of Jan. Received the 1st that it was received. Everytime I go to check the status, it states that it is still processing And now it’s going past 21 days. Freaking balls
    please help. I student loans but they said they wont default me to where I won’t get a return. What to do???

  21. We were accepted on the 26th no update yet, when I check irs2go it says still processing I’m very disappointed in the whole situation

  22. Its is feb 11 2015 I filed feb 2 no change still saying processing state today change to processing yesterday state said sorry cant find your information so that is a good sign I hope

  23. It’s been exactly 21 days and the site says my refund is still processing. It’s NEVER taken this long for my refund. Are things just slow this year?

    • Everyone seems to be blaming TurboTax. If it says accepted don’t you think it must be our wonderful IRS department? I guess with them having to check on healthcare coverage it’s just gonna take longer.

  24. My status has been ‘processing’ for the past 20 days. It was received on Jan 20/21st and now this is all i’m getting. I have not received any mail etc that there was anything else needed?.What should I do next?

  25. I recieved 2 different refund dates the first one said I should recieve my return march 3 I checked this morning it says before March 28 and it only days my return has been recieved I thought it couldn’t give you an estimated date until your refund has been approved?

  26. I’m concerned. I filed 1-23-15, it took 17 days to be approved. It said I should have received it by the 11th (TODAY) and I check wheres my refund today and it still says not sent. What is the deal… ? This tax season is crazy.

  27. I filed on 1/20. Accepted on 1/21. Then my wmr bars went away. I called IRS yesterday and they stated that I was being processed manually and it was going to take a minute of 6 weeks. I filed the same way I have for the last 4 years.

  28. I filed my my tax return on 1/29 and it was accepted on Jan 30th. Turbo tax just shows accepted, on the IRS website it shows return received so I guess a lot of us are in the same boat this sucks.

  29. This is the most aggravating process there is…..its been 3 weeks it still says processing….ppl who filed have already received theirs and I’ve called every IRS # I’ve seen still can’t talk to a person…… Madd

  30. Update: Nothing new. Just so that some of you don’t feel alone (and me, neither I guess). I filed Jan. 24, got accepted but still ….. nothing. I still see the same redundant bar every single, solitary day that I log on. It has not moved to approved, yet. This Saturday will make 21 days. I have tried calling the IRS to speak to a LIVE human being but can’t get anyone. I will have to take matters further after this weekend. Does anyone know of a number I can call to get someone on the phone? I won’t let this go on for months. Not happening.

    • Press two then everytime it ask you a question press pound key it will say sorry didn’t understand press pound again wait see what it says if it says something press pound again it will connect you to a live person

    • I just stumbled upon some contact numbers at my local library, not sure if these are the numbers you have already tried. But here is what i have..

      For live assistance for individual or joint filers call : 1-800-829-4933

      IRS Refund Hotline (not sure what this # is, if it is pre-recorded or the live assistance line) call: 1-800-829-1954

    • This worked for me. Call 800-829-1954, follow these exact prompts > press opt 1,2,1,4,2,5, it will then direct you to enter your social, then it will place you on hold to a rep comes. Ive used it twice and only waited 15mins.

  31. I got an email saying my taxes were funded to the direct deposit netspend card i requested but the WMR site says it hasnt been approved or sent yet.

  32. I filed my taxes on 01/14, got accepted & processed on 01/22, got a notice 01/30 that my funds were deposited into my account. My state was deposited but not my federal. The irs website keeps saying my info is incorrect and can’t tell me anything. I call the irs hotline & they are still “unable to give me information”. Thursday 02/12 will be my 21 days after being accepted & processed. What’s the deal??

      • I talked to the irs today and they said there’s a hold due to the change in my filing status and I needed to wait 2 more weeks. I filed on the 16th. They also had to verify my identity before they could process anything further

  33. I Filed my taxes on January 31, 2015 and I filed with turbo tax for the first time and have no received my refund yet, I usually file at a tax place and receive my refund in about six days, has anyone gotten their return yet?

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