Where to check your 2020 refund right now
The IRS has a tool called Where's My Refund? that shows the status of your 2020 tax return. You can find it at irs.gov/refunds. You will need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount from your tax return to use it.
The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. If your return was filed more than 21 days ago and you do not see it in the system yet, that can mean the IRS is still processing it — which is normal for most returns. A small number of returns take longer because they need manual review.
You can also call the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount ready. Wait times are often long, especially during tax season, but the phone line can sometimes give you information the website does not yet show.
Key Takeaways
- Where's My Refund? at irs.gov/refunds is the official IRS tool for checking 2020 refund status and updates once per day.
- You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return to check your status.
- Most refunds arrive within 21 days of the IRS accepting your return, though some take longer if they need manual review.
- The IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 is another way to check, though phone wait times are often long.
- If your refund is more than 21 days late and does not appear in the system, contact the IRS before assuming it is lost.
What the status messages mean
When you check Where's My Refund?, you will see one of a few messages. "Return received" means the IRS has your return but has not started processing it yet. This is normal and usually means you are in the queue. "Return approved" means the IRS has reviewed your return and found no problems — your refund is being prepared to send out.
"Refund sent" means the IRS has released your money. If you chose direct deposit, it should arrive in your bank account within a few business days after this message appears. If you chose a paper check, it can take two to three weeks to arrive by mail, depending on postal service speed.
If you see "Return under review" or "Return being processed," the IRS is looking more closely at your return. This happens when something on your return does not match IRS records, or when the return itself has an error or inconsistency. You may receive a letter asking for more information. Do not ignore IRS letters — they usually have a important date for responding.
Why your 2020 refund might be delayed
The IRS processed 2020 returns during a period when they were understaffed and dealing with a backlog from the previous year. Some 2020 returns are still being processed years later, though this is rare. If your return is delayed, the most common reasons are: you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you claimed the Additional Child Tax Credit, or something on your return did not match IRS records.
Returns with these credits are held for extra review by law — the IRS cannot release them until the review is complete. This can add weeks or months. If your return matches IRS records and has no credits, it should process faster.
Another reason for delay is a mismatch between what you reported and what the IRS has on file. For example, if you reported income from a job but the employer did not send a W-2 to the IRS, or if the W-2 amounts do not match what you reported, the IRS will hold your return to investigate. You may receive a letter asking you to verify the income or provide documents.
What to do if your refund is missing or very late
If your refund shows as "sent" but you have not received it after the expected time, first check that the bank account or address on file with the IRS is correct. If you moved or changed banks since filing, the refund may have gone to an old account. You can verify the address the IRS has by checking your return transcript at irs.gov/transcripts.
If the address is correct and you still have not received a check after four weeks, or if the refund was supposed to go to your bank account and it has been two weeks with no deposit, contact the IRS. Call 1-800-829-1954 or visit your local IRS office. Bring a copy of your tax return and any IRS letters you received about it.
If your return still shows as "under review" or "being processed" after three months, you can also contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. This is a free service within the IRS that helps when normal channels are not working. You can reach them at 1-877-777-4778 or through your local IRS office.
How to find your refund amount if you lost your return
If you do not have a copy of your 2020 tax return and need to know the refund amount to check your status, you can get a transcript from the IRS. A return transcript shows the main information from your return, including the refund amount. You can order one free at irs.gov/transcripts, by phone at 1-800-908-9946, or by mail using Form 4506-C.
The online transcript tool is fastest — you can usually see it when ready if you set up an IRS online account. By phone, it takes about 10 minutes. By mail, allow two to four weeks. Once you have the refund amount, you can use it to check your status in Where's My Refund?
Direct deposit versus check — which one affects your refund
When you filed your 2020 return, you chose either direct deposit (the IRS sends money to your bank account) or a paper check. This choice does not affect how long the IRS takes to process your return, but it does affect how long it takes to reach you once the IRS releases it.
Direct deposit is faster. Once the IRS marks your refund as "sent," the money usually arrives in your bank account within one to three business days. A paper check takes longer — usually two to three weeks by mail, sometimes longer if the postal service is slow or if you moved and the check had to be forwarded.
If you chose direct deposit but the money never arrived, check that the account number and routing number you entered on your return are correct. A single wrong digit will send the refund to the wrong bank. If the account information was wrong, contact the IRS — they may be able to recover the money or issue a check instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my 2020 refund status if I filed an extension?
Yes. If you filed Form 4868 (extension request) for 2020, you had until October 15, 2021 to file your actual return. Once you filed it, you can check the status the same way — through Where's My Refund? or by calling 1-800-829-1954. The 21-day processing timeline starts from when the IRS receives your return, not from the extension important date.
What if Where's My Refund? says my refund was sent but I never got it?
First, verify the address or bank account the IRS has on file — check your return transcript at irs.gov/transcripts. If the information is wrong, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1954. If the information is correct but you still have not received the money after the expected time, the IRS can investigate and may issue a replacement check or direct deposit.
How long does the IRS keep processing 2020 returns?
Most 2020 returns were processed by 2022, but some are still being worked on. If your return is still showing as "under review" or "being processed" years later, contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778. They can find out why your return is delayed and help move it forward.
Do I need to do anything if my refund is delayed, or should I just wait?
If your return shows as "under review" and you receive an IRS letter, respond to it by the important date. If your return shows as "sent" but you have not received it after the expected time, contact the IRS. Otherwise, waiting is normal — most delays resolve on their own, though it can take weeks or months.
Can I get my 2020 refund faster by calling the IRS?
No. Calling the IRS can tell you the status and help if something is wrong, but it does not speed up processing. The IRS processes returns in the order they receive them. If your return is delayed because it needs manual review, only that review process can move it forward.