How to Check Your Income Tax Return Status
Your tax return follows a clear path after you file. Learn how to monitor its journey through the system and understand what each status update means.
After filing an income tax return, taxpayers can monitor its progress through government systems. This process applies to both federal and state returns and provides transparency after a return has been submitted, allowing filers to see the progress from receipt to completion.
Information Needed to Check Your Return Status
Before you can check the status of your income tax refund, you must gather specific information from your tax return. These details are used by tax agencies to verify your identity and securely access your return’s information. Having a copy of your filed tax return on hand is the best way to ensure you have the correct figures.
You will need your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The second piece of information required is your filing status, such as Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household.
The final requirement is the exact refund amount you are expecting. This must be the whole dollar amount shown on your tax return, without including any cents. For example, if your refund is $850.50, you would enter $850.
Checking Your Federal Tax Return Status
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides a centralized online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” as the primary method for tracking your federal tax return. This portal is accessible through the official IRS website, and the same functionality is available through the IRS2Go mobile app.
The system is updated once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so checking more than once a day will not provide new information. Once you input your information, the tool will display one of three statuses indicating a different stage of the process.
The first status, “Return Received,” confirms that the IRS has your tax return and is reviewing it. The next status, “Refund Approved,” signifies that the IRS has processed your return, confirmed the refund amount, and is preparing to send the payment. This status will often include a projected date for when the refund will be issued.
“Refund Sent,” means the IRS has disbursed the money, either through direct deposit or by mailing a paper check. It can take up to five business days for a direct deposit to appear in your account, while a mailed check may take several weeks to arrive.
Checking Your State Tax Return Status
The process for checking your state income tax refund is separate from the federal system and is managed by each state’s tax agency. These agencies are commonly named the Department of Revenue, Department of Taxation, or Franchise Tax Board. You must use the specific portal provided by the state in which you filed.
To find the correct tool, perform an online search for your state’s tax agency and look for a link on their website, often labeled “Where’s My Refund?” The specific status messages and update frequencies can vary significantly from one state to another. It is important to ensure you are on the official government website for your state to protect your personal data.
Understanding Processing Times and Delays
The time it takes to receive your refund can vary based on how you filed. Returns that are filed electronically are processed much faster, with most refunds being issued within 21 days. In contrast, paper returns filed by mail require manual data entry, and you should expect to wait about four weeks before the status is available to check online.
Several factors can cause your refund to be delayed. Simple errors, such as typos, mathematical mistakes, or missing information, are common reasons for a delay. A return may also be flagged for further review if it includes a claim for certain tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds for returns claiming these credits before mid-February to allow for additional verification.
Your refund could also be held up if the IRS suspects identity theft or fraud, which requires additional verification steps. In some cases, your refund may be used to cover other outstanding debts, such as past-due federal taxes, state income tax, or child support. If the “Where’s My Refund?” tool provides a message instructing you to contact the IRS, it is important to have a copy of your tax return with you when you call.