Check the IRS tracking tool first — it shows the exact status of your refund

The IRS has a free tool called Where's My Refund? that tells you whether your refund has been processed, approved, or sent. You can find it at irs.gov. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return.

The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. If you filed electronically, the IRS typically processes your return within 21 days. If you mailed a paper return, processing takes longer — usually six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives it. The tool will show you the exact date your refund should arrive in your bank account or by mail, depending on how you chose to receive it.

If the tool says your refund is still being processed and you filed more than 21 days ago (or more than six to eight weeks for a paper return), your return may have been flagged for review. This happens when something on your return doesn't match IRS records — a name change, a discrepancy in income, or a claim the IRS wants to verify.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool shows your refund status in real time and tells you the exact date it will arrive.
  • Electronic returns process within 21 days; paper returns take six to eight weeks from the date received.
  • If your refund is delayed beyond the normal timeline, the IRS may have flagged your return for review or verification.
  • The IRS will contact you by mail if they need more information — they do not call or email first.
  • If your refund was deposited to the wrong account, you can report it to your bank and the IRS will help trace it.

What to do if the IRS is reviewing your return

When the Where's My Refund tool says your return is under review, the IRS will mail you a letter explaining what they need. This letter will have a specific date by which you should respond. The IRS does not call or email about this — if someone contacts you claiming to be the IRS and asking for information, it is a scam.

The letter will ask for one of a few things: proof of income (like a W-2 or 1099), proof of a dependent (like a birth certificate or Social Security card), or clarification about a deduction or credit you claimed. You respond by mail using the address in the letter. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Once the IRS receives your response, processing usually resumes within 30 days. You can check Where's My Refund again to see if the status has changed. If the IRS needs more information after reviewing what you sent, they will mail you another letter.

If your refund was deposited to the wrong bank account

If you chose direct deposit and the refund went to an old account or the wrong account entirely, contact your bank first. Tell them the IRS deposited money to your account in error and ask them to reverse it. Many banks can do this within a few business days if the account is still open and active.

At the same time, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and tell them the refund was sent to the wrong account. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can file a claim to recover the funds from the receiving bank, but this process takes time — usually four to six weeks.

If the receiving account is closed or belongs to someone else, the IRS will work with that bank to retrieve the funds. You may be asked to sign a form authorizing the IRS to pursue recovery. Once recovered, the IRS will reissue your refund to the correct account or by check.

When to contact the IRS directly about a delayed refund

Contact the IRS if more than 21 days have passed since you filed electronically and Where's My Refund shows no status update, or if more than eight weeks have passed since you mailed a paper return. Call 800-829-1040 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time). Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready.

The IRS can see whether your return was received, whether it is being processed, and whether it has been flagged for review. If it has been flagged, they can tell you what information is needed and whether the letter has been mailed yet. If your return was mailed and the IRS has no record of receiving it, you may need to file a trace request or file an amended return.

Wait times to speak with an IRS representative are often long, especially during tax season (January through April). If you cannot reach someone by phone, you can also visit a local IRS office in person — find the nearest one at irs.gov/localoffices.

If your return was mailed and the IRS never received it

If you mailed your paper return and the IRS has no record of receiving it after eight weeks, file a Form 4506-C (Request for Copy of Tax Return) to ask the IRS to search for it. You can file this form by mail or online at irs.gov. The IRS will search their records and tell you whether they found your return.

If they did not find it, you will need to file your return again. You can file electronically or by mail. When you file the second time, write "DUPLICATE" at the top of the form so the IRS knows you have already filed once. Keep proof that you mailed the first return — a copy of the return itself, the mailing receipt, or a photo of the envelope with tracking information.

Once you file the second return, the IRS will process it normally. If the first return shows up later, the IRS will match the two and process only one. You will receive only one refund, not two.

Refunds delayed by identity theft or fraud

If the IRS suspects your return was filed fraudulently — for example, someone else filed a return using your Social Security number — your refund will be held while they investigate. The Where's My Refund tool will show a message saying your return requires additional review.

The IRS will mail you a letter with instructions on how to verify your identity. This usually involves providing a copy of your driver's license or passport and answering questions about your tax history. The process can take several months.

If you believe your identity has been stolen, you can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. The FTC will create a recovery plan and send you a letter you can use to dispute fraudulent accounts or claims. Keep this letter and your IRS correspondence together.

What happens if your refund expires

Tax refunds do not expire in the traditional sense, but the IRS can only issue a refund for three years from the date you filed. If you filed in April 2021 and did not receive your refund by April 2024, you cannot claim it through the normal refund process.

If this has happened, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to claim the refund as a credit against future taxes owed, or you can request a refund by filing Form 1040-X and attaching a statement explaining that you never received the original refund. The IRS will review your claim and either issue the refund or explore it to taxes you owe.

This situation is rare and usually only happens when a return was lost in the mail or when someone did not follow up on a return that was flagged for review.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a refund after the IRS approves it?

If you chose direct deposit, the refund usually arrives in your bank account within one to three business days after the IRS approves it. If you chose a paper check, it takes seven to ten business days for the check to arrive by mail after approval.

Can I get my refund faster if I pay a tax preparation company?

No. Tax preparation companies cannot speed up IRS processing. Some offer "refund advances" — loans against your expected refund — but these come with fees and interest. The IRS processes all returns on the same timeline regardless of who prepared them.

What if the Where's My Refund tool says my refund was approved but I never received it?

If direct deposit was chosen, contact your bank to confirm the deposit was not made to a closed or old account. If a check was chosen, wait ten business days from the approval date, then contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 to report it as missing. The IRS can issue a replacement check.

Do I need to do anything if my refund is delayed, or should I just wait?

Wait until the normal processing time has passed (21 days for electronic, eight weeks for paper) before contacting the IRS. If the Where's My Refund tool shows a status update, no action is needed — your refund is on its way. If there is no update after the normal timeframe, contact the IRS.

What if I filed my taxes but forgot to include a form or made a mistake?

If you made a mistake on your return, you can file an amended return using Form 1040-X. This will not speed up your current refund, but it will correct the error for future years. If the amendment results in a larger refund, you will receive the difference once the amended return is processed.