How to check the status of your federal tax refund
The IRS has a tool called Where's My Refund? that tells you whether your refund has been processed, approved, and sent to your bank or mailed to you. You can check it on the IRS website at irs.gov, or by calling the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight.
To use the online tool, you will need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount from your tax return. If you filed electronically, the tool usually has information within 24 hours. If you mailed a paper return, it may take three to four weeks before the tool shows any status at all.
The tool will tell you one of three things: your refund is still being processed, your refund has been approved and a payment date has been set, or your refund has been sent. If it has been sent, the tool will show you the date it was deposited to your bank account or mailed as a check.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS Where's My Refund tool on irs.gov is the official source for refund status and updates once per day.
- You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount from your return to check your status.
- Electronic returns show status within 24 hours; paper returns take three to four weeks before any status appears.
- The tool will tell you whether your refund is being processed, approved with a payment date, or already sent.
- If your refund was sent by direct deposit, the tool shows the deposit date; if mailed, it shows the check mailing date.
What the different status messages mean
Refund still being processed: The IRS is reviewing your return. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem. Most returns are processed within 21 days of being received, though some take longer if the IRS needs to verify information or if you claimed certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Refund approved: The IRS has finished reviewing your return and approved your refund. The tool will show you the date your refund will be sent. If you chose direct deposit, this is usually five business days after the approval date. If you are receiving a check, allow up to two weeks after the approval date for it to arrive in the mail.
Refund sent: Your refund has left the IRS. If it was sent by direct deposit, it should already be in your bank account on the date shown. If it was sent as a check, it is in the mail and should arrive within the timeframe the tool provides.
Why your refund might be delayed
Some returns take longer than 21 days to process. The IRS may need to verify information on your return, such as income reported by your employer, whether you claimed dependents correctly, or whether you are may have access to to a credit you claimed. If you made a math error on your return, the IRS will correct it, which can add time.
Returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit often take longer because the IRS reviews these more carefully. If you filed a paper return instead of electronically, processing takes longer because the IRS must scan and enter the information by hand.
If the Where's My Refund tool has not updated in more than 21 days and your return was filed electronically, or more than four weeks if you mailed a paper return, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 to speak with someone who can look into your specific return.
Direct deposit versus check: what to expect
If you chose to have your refund sent by direct deposit, the money goes straight into the bank account you listed on your return. Direct deposit is faster than a check — usually five business days after approval — and there is no risk of the check being lost in the mail.
If you are receiving a check, the IRS will mail it to the address on your return. A mailed check typically takes one to two weeks to arrive, depending on mail delivery in your area. If more than two weeks have passed since the tool showed your refund was sent and you have not received the check, contact the IRS.
If you moved after filing your return, the check may be sent to your old address. You can contact the IRS to request that they reissue the check to your new address, or you can wait to see if the check arrives and then deposit it at your bank even though the address is old.
What to do if the tool says your refund was sent but you have not received it
If the Where's My Refund tool shows your refund was sent by direct deposit but it is not in your bank account, first check with your bank to make sure the deposit did not go to a different account you have with them. Sometimes a direct deposit goes to a savings account instead of a checking account, or to an account you forgot you had.
If the money is not in any of your accounts, call your bank and give them the date the IRS said the deposit was sent. The bank can search their records to see whether they received the deposit. If the bank received it but it went to the wrong account, they can usually move it for you. If the bank never received it, ask them for a reference number and then call the IRS with that information.
If the tool shows your check was mailed but you have not received it after two weeks, wait a few more days in case it is delayed in the mail. If three weeks have passed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 and they can issue you a replacement check.
Refunds sent to a closed bank account
If you listed a bank account on your return that you have since closed, the IRS will attempt to deposit your refund there anyway. When the bank rejects the deposit because the account is closed, the IRS will mail you a check instead. This takes longer — you may not receive the check for several weeks after the approval date.
The Where's My Refund tool may show a deposit date even though the deposit was rejected and a check is being mailed instead. If you know you closed the account, do not expect the money to appear on that date. A check should arrive within four to six weeks of the approval date.
To avoid this delay in the future, make sure the bank account information on your return is current and for an account that will still be open when your refund is sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the Where's My Refund tool update?
The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking multiple times in the same day will show the same information. If your status has not changed in more than 21 days and you filed electronically, contact the IRS.
Can I get my refund faster than the normal timeline?
No. The IRS processes returns in the order they are received, and there is no way to move your return to the front of the line. Direct deposit is faster than a mailed check, but the processing time itself cannot be shortened.
What if I filed jointly with my spouse and we want to know about the refund?
Either spouse can check the status using the Where's My Refund tool with their own Social Security number. The tool will show the same refund status for both of you since it is one joint return.
Do I need to do anything while I wait for my refund?
No. Once you have filed your return, the IRS will process it and send your refund automatically. You do not need to contact them or take any action unless the tool shows a problem or more than 21 days have passed with no update.