How to Find Your Tax Refund

Read the Article

You filed your taxes and discovered that a big refund is headed your way. That’s great! Now you’re wondering when it will arrive. The sooner it gets here, the sooner you’ll be able to spend it, save it, or whatever it is you want to do with it. So how do you find out when your tax refund is expected to arrive?

There are many ways for you to find the expected arrival date of your tax refund, but first you should know that it takes the IRS a few days before they can give you an estimate on your refund date. So even if your tax software or your accountant give you an initial estimate, you need to check with the IRS a few days later to be sure of how long it will take. According to the IRS, if you e-file your return, you can start checking on your return after 72 hours of filing. If you mailed in your tax return, you can start checking on your refund in 3 weeks.

IRS “Where’s My Refund” Website

Once the waiting period has lapsed, you can visit the IRS “Where’s My Refund” website to check the status of your refund. This online tool allows you to input a few key pieces of information and get a date when your refund will be sent. You will need to enter the following information:

  • Social Security Number (you or your spouse if Married Filing Jointly)
  • Filing Status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, Married Filing Separately, or Qualifying Widower)
  • Refund Amount (the exact dollar amount of your Federal tax refund)

Once you enter this information, the “Where’s My Refund” online tool will tell you the status of your refund (when your direct deposit will be sent, or when your check will be mailed). If you are trying to access this tool from your iPhone or Android phone, it might be best to use the IRS2Go App.

MyTaxRefund – Free iPhone/iPad App

Another great way to find your refund information on the go is to use the TurboTax MyTaxRefund App. It’s a free iPhone/iPad app that let’s you quickly determine where your refund is. If you filed with TurboTax, this app will tell you when your return was filed, when it was accepted by the IRS, and an estimated date of when you can expect to receive your refund.

Finally, if all else fails, be sure to reference the IRS E-File Refund Cycle Chart. Based on the date your e-filed your return, the chart gives you a date of when you can expect the IRS to send your direct deposit or mail your refund check. Find out more about this calendar and your expected refund date by visiting the TurboTax “when will I get my refund” page.

22 responses to “How to Find Your Tax Refund”

  1. I havent gotten my income tax , and I don’t know if I’m supposed to get it in the mail or in my bank account ??

  2. I prepared 2011 taxes for Lawrence Bresser
    SS# – refund $177.00. Turbo tax sent me an e-mail saying the turbo tax card has expired and the 177.00 was mailed on4-03-2013. Where is it?

  3. I filed my taxes February 2nd. I got an email on February 3rd. that my taxes had been accepted by the IRS.I have been trying to track my refund since i got the email. and have not been able to find anything, but that i would get it within 10-21 days. my 21 days is up on Friday the 24. I want to know what is going on. I can’t figure out how to call some one with answers. please any answers would be appreciated.

      • Just to follow up on the up-date of this issue on your web site and would wish to let you know psmily how much I loved the time you took to write this useful post. Within the post, you spoke on how to truly handle this concern with all ease. It would be my personal pleasure to collect some more concepts from your blog and come as much as offer other people what I learned from you. I appreciate your usual great effort.

  4. I had my check directly deposited onto this turbotax card and they closed my account with out notifying me – – now TPG processed my refund and so bc my account was closed that my refund was supposed to be directly deposited into, what happens next?

    • Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read ytnahing like this before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality. useful job for bringing something new to the internet!

      • Hi Laros,
        Thank you. We are glad you enjoy the blog. Please check back for new interesting topics soon.
        Thank you,
        Lisa Greene-Lewis

  5. A few years ago my tax return stated I had a certain amount over paid. The IRS didn’t agree with accountant’s figures. He says he has someone working on it in

    Several years ago my accountant filed my taxes for me stating I had a certain amount comming back to me. The IRS did not agree.

    My accountant says he has some one in Cleveland working on it. This has gone on for a few years wih no results. Could you look into this for me?

  6. I, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I, CAN FIND WHEN I, GOING TO RESIVE MY TAXAS REFUND I SEND TO MAKE LMOST 4 WEEKS AGO I UNTILL NOW I DON’T KNOW NATHING PLEASE GEVE ME A NOMBER TO CALL I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPEND

Leave a Reply