The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers that the Where’s my refund? is the most convenient way to check the status of 2022, 2021 and 2020 tax refunds. The IRS2Go mobile app gives users another way to check the status of their refunds.
Information for the most recent tax year is usually available within 24 hours of the IRS sending an acknowledgment of receipt of an electronically filed return. If they filed a paper return, taxpayers must wait four weeks before checking the status.
To use Where’s My Refund?, taxpayers must enter their Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, their filing status, and the exact dollar amount of their expected refund from the original tax return for the year they check.
The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check more often. This saves people from having to contact the IRS for updates unless the tool prompts them to call.
Where is my refund? shows the progression in three steps:
- When the tax return is received
- When reimbursement is approved
- and when the refund is sent
Taxpayers will receive personalized refund information based on their tax filing status. The tool will provide a current refund date once the IRS has processed the return and approved the refund.
The fastest way to get a refund is e-deposit and direct deposit. Taxpayers who do not have a bank account can learn more about opening an account at an FDIC-insured bank or from the National Credit Union Administration’s tool.
To wait for
Although most refunds are issued in less than 21 days for taxpayers who file their return electronically and choose direct deposit, some refunds may take longer. Many different factors can affect when a refund is mailed, such as if the return is inaccurate, incomplete, or affected by identity theft or fraud.
Other causes of delay:
- The tax return may require additional review.
- The declaration requires a correction of the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit.
- The time between the IRS issuing the refund and the bank delivering it to the account, as many banks do not process payments on weekends or holidays.
The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if additional information is needed to process a return. The IRS Help Desk and telephone representatives can only investigate the status of a refund if:
- It has been 21 days or more since you filed electronically.
- Six weeks or more have passed since a statement was posted.
- Where is my refund? tells the taxpayer to contact the IRS.
If a refund from the taxpayer is not what is expected, it may be due to changes made by the IRS to the return. These changes could include corrections to Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit amounts or offsetting all or part of the refund amount to pay overdue taxes or debts. More information about the refund reduction is available at IRS.gov.
Filing a tax return
Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov for information on how to file their tax returns. There is information about
As a reminder, the deadline for most taxpayers to file a tax return, pay any taxes owing, or request an extension of filing is Tuesday, April 18.