The IRS Where's My Refund tool tells you the status of your return and when your refund will arrive

The Where's My Refund tool is a page on the IRS website where you enter basic information about your tax return and see where it is in the processing queue. It shows you three things: whether the IRS has received your return, whether they have approved it, and the date your refund will hit your bank account or arrive by mail. You can check it as soon as you file, though the IRS usually does not have information to show for 24 hours after you submit.

The tool works whether you filed electronically or by paper mail. If you filed electronically through a tax software or tax preparer, you can typically check within a day. If you mailed a paper return, the IRS needs time to receive and scan it first — usually one to three weeks — before the tool will show any information.

Key Takeaways

  • The Where's My Refund tool is located at irs.gov/refunds and requires your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.
  • The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times on the same day will show the same information.
  • A refund typically takes 21 days to process after the IRS receives your return, though some returns take longer if they need review.
  • If the tool says your refund was issued but you have not received it, the IRS has a separate tool called Where's My Payment that tracks the actual deposit or mailed check.

What information you need to use the tool

Before you go to the Where's My Refund page, gather three pieces of information from your tax return: your Social Security number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household), and the exact refund amount you claimed on your return. The refund amount is the number from line 33 of Form 1040 if you are due money back, or the amount shown on your tax software's final summary screen.

The IRS asks for the exact refund amount to confirm you are looking up your own return and not someone else's. If you are not sure of the amount, check your copy of the return you filed or log into your tax software account and look at the final return summary. Do not estimate or round — the tool requires the exact dollar and cent amount.

How to access the tool and what each status means

Go to irs.gov and look for the "Refunds" section on the homepage, or search for "Where's My Refund." Click the link to the tool, enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount, then click "Submit." The tool will show you one of three statuses.

Return Received means the IRS has your return but has not finished reviewing it yet. This is the first status you will see, and it typically lasts a few days to a few weeks depending on how busy the IRS is and whether your return needs extra review.

Approved means the IRS has reviewed your return, found no problems, and approved your refund. Once you see this status, the IRS is preparing to send the money. This stage usually lasts a few days to a week.

Sent means the IRS has issued your refund. If you chose direct deposit, the money is on its way to your bank account. If you chose a mailed check, the check is in the mail. The tool will show you the date the refund was sent, and usually an estimated arrival date as well.

Why the tool sometimes shows no information

If you check the tool and it says "Return information does not match our records," you may have entered something incorrectly. Double-check that you used the exact refund amount from your return, not an estimate. Make sure your Social Security number and filing status match what is on the return you filed. Try again with the correct information.

If you filed by mail and it has been less than three weeks, the IRS may not have received and scanned your return yet. Paper returns take longer to process than electronic ones. Wait a few more days and try again.

If you filed electronically and it has been more than 24 hours with no information showing, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm they received your return. Have your return handy when you call.

The difference between Where's My Refund and Where's My Payment

Once the Where's My Refund tool shows "Sent," your refund has been issued by the IRS. But if you have not received it yet and want to track the actual deposit or check in transit, use the Where's My Payment tool instead. This is a separate tool on the IRS website that tracks the movement of the money itself — when it left the IRS, which bank it went to, and when it will arrive in your account.

Where's My Payment is most useful if your refund was supposed to arrive by a certain date and it has not shown up. The tool can tell you whether the money is still in transit, whether it was sent to the wrong account, or whether there was a problem with delivery. You access it the same way: go to irs.gov, search for "Where's My Payment," and enter your information.

How long refunds usually take

The IRS aims to process most returns and issue refunds within 21 days of receiving them. If you filed electronically, that clock usually starts within 24 hours of submission. If you mailed a paper return, it starts when the IRS receives and scans your return, which can take one to three weeks on its own.

Some returns take longer than 21 days. This happens when the IRS needs to review your return more carefully — for example, if you claimed a large deduction, if there is a mismatch between your return and information the IRS has on file, or if the IRS is straightforward very busy. The Where's My Refund tool will still show "Return Received" or "Approved" during this time, and you can check it to see if there is any update.

If your refund does not arrive within 21 days of the date shown in the tool, or if Where's My Payment shows a delivery date that has passed, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit your local IRS office.

What to do if you think there is a problem

If the Where's My Refund tool shows "Sent" but you have not received your refund after the estimated arrival date, first check Where's My Payment to see if there is more recent information about the deposit or check. If Where's My Payment shows the refund was sent to your bank but your bank account does not show it, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was rejected or sent to a different account.

If the tool shows "Return Received" or "Approved" but it has been more than 21 days since you filed, or if you see an error message that will not clear, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your return, your Social Security number, and the date you filed ready. The IRS can look up your return in their system and tell you what is happening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status on my phone?

Yes. The Where's My Refund tool works on mobile browsers. Go to irs.gov on your phone's web browser, search for "Where's My Refund," and enter your information the same way you would on a computer. The IRS also has a mobile app called IRS2Go that includes the refund tracker.

How often does the tool update?

The Where's My Refund tool updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking it multiple times on the same day will show the same status. If your status has changed, you will see it the next day.

What if I filed jointly with a spouse — whose Social Security number do I use?

Use the Social Security number of the person whose name appears first on the return. The tool will show the status of the entire joint return, not just one spouse's portion.

Does the tool show why my return is taking longer than 21 days?

The tool shows your return's status but not the reason for delays. If your return is taking longer than expected, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and they can tell you whether the IRS is reviewing it further or if there is a specific issue holding it up.

Can I change my refund method after I file — like switching from a check to direct deposit?

No. Once you file your return, you cannot change how the refund is sent. If you chose a mailed check and want direct deposit instead, you will have to wait for the check to arrive, deposit it yourself, and then request a refund adjustment if needed. For future years, you can choose direct deposit when you file.