When Should I Expect to Get My Tax Refund?

After filing your annual tax return, the next question for many is about the tax refund. It is important to distinguish between the return, which is the set of forms like Form 1040 that you file, and the refund, which is the money the government sends back if you overpaid your taxes during the year. The timing of this payment depends on several choices you make during the filing process.

Standard IRS Refund Timelines

The IRS generally issues most refunds in less than 21 days for those who file electronically and choose direct deposit. This combination is the fastest method because the return is processed by automated systems and the money is transferred directly to your bank account, avoiding postal mail delays.

Filing a paper tax return extends the waiting period. A paper return must be mailed, opened, and manually entered into IRS systems, which can take six to eight weeks or longer from the date the IRS receives it.

The slowest combination is filing a paper return and requesting a paper check. This method involves the lengthy manual processing of the return and adds the time it takes for the U.S. Treasury to print and mail a physical check.

Choosing to e-file but receiving a paper check is faster than mailing your return but still slower than direct deposit. While the return is processed quickly, you must wait for the physical check to be mailed, which can take around a month.

How to Check Your Refund Status

Once you have filed your return, you can monitor its progress using the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool, available on the IRS.gov website and the IRS2Go mobile app. To use the tool, you will need three pieces of information: your Social Security Number, your filing status, and the exact refund amount shown on your tax return. This information must match the data on your filed return precisely.

The tool becomes accessible at different times depending on how you filed. If you e-filed a current-year return, you can check the status within 24 hours. For those who mailed a paper return, information will not be available for at least four weeks. The system updates once every 24 hours, so there is no need to check it multiple times throughout the day.

The “Where’s My Refund?” tool displays the status of your refund in three stages: “Return Received,” “Refund Approved,” and “Refund Sent.” “Return Received” confirms the IRS has your return and is processing it. “Refund Approved” means the IRS has processed your return, confirmed the refund amount, and is preparing to issue it. “Refund Sent” indicates the money is on its way, either to your bank via direct deposit or as a paper check in the mail. It can take up to five business days for a direct deposit to appear in your account after it is sent.

Common Reasons for Refund Delays

Several issues can delay a tax refund beyond the standard processing times. Simple errors on the tax return are a frequent cause, including mathematical mistakes, incorrect Social Security numbers, or names that do not match Social Security records. Incomplete returns that are missing required forms, such as a Form W-2, will also require additional time for the IRS to correct.

Claiming certain tax credits can also lead to a legally mandated delay. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act requires the IRS to hold refunds for taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). By law, the IRS cannot issue these refunds before mid-February, regardless of when the return was filed. This measure is in place to give the agency more time to detect and prevent fraud.

A return may also be flagged for further review, which can happen for various reasons, including suspected identity theft or a discrepancy in the estimated tax payments you reported versus what the IRS has on record. If the IRS needs more information to verify your identity or details on your return, they will contact you by mail.