Where to check your refund status depends on which country's tax system you filed under

If you filed a tax return in Australia for the 2020–21 financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the only place that can tell you where your refund is. If you filed in the United States, the IRS has a tool for that. The process and timeline differ significantly between the two, so start by confirming which tax authority you filed with.

Most people can check their refund status online without calling or visiting an office. The ATO's system updates every few days during the processing period, while the IRS updates theirs daily. Both will tell you whether your refund has been received, is being processed, or has been sent.

Key Takeaways

  • The ATO (Australia) and IRS (United States) are the only sources that can confirm your refund status; third-party tax software cannot access this information.
  • The ATO's online portal updates every few days and typically processes refunds within 2 weeks if your return is straightforward, but can take longer if the ATO needs to verify information.
  • The IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool updates daily and requires your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.
  • If your refund is delayed beyond the expected timeframe, contact the tax authority directly rather than your accountant or tax software provider.

Checking your refund status with the Australian Taxation Office

Log in to your ATO online account using your myGov credentials. Once logged in, select "Tax returns" and then "View your tax return". Scroll down to the payment section — this is where the ATO shows whether your refund has been processed and when it was sent to your bank account.

The ATO processes most straightforward returns within 2 weeks of lodgement. If your return requires additional checks — such as verifying income from multiple employers, checking deductions, or cross-referencing information with your employer — processing can take 4 to 8 weeks or longer. The ATO will contact you by mail or through your myGov inbox if they need more information from you.

If you lodged your return through a tax agent, you can also ask them to check the status on your behalf, though they will see the same information you would see yourself online.

Checking your refund status with the IRS

Go to the IRS website and select "Where's My Refund?" under the "Refunds" section. You will need three pieces of information: your Social Security number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount shown on your tax return.

The IRS updates this tool once per day, usually overnight. If you filed electronically, your refund status should appear within 24 hours of the IRS receiving your return. If you mailed a paper return, it can take 3 to 4 weeks before the IRS receives and processes it enough to show a status.

The tool will show one of three messages: "Your refund is being processed", "Your refund was approved", or "Your refund was sent" with a date and method (direct deposit or check). If the tool says your refund was sent more than 21 days ago and you have not received it, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

What causes delays in the 2020–21 tax year

The 2020–21 financial year saw higher-than-normal refund delays in both Australia and the United States due to increased volume and staffing constraints. In Australia, the ATO experienced a backlog of returns requiring manual review, particularly those claiming home office deductions or JobKeeper payments. In the United States, the IRS faced similar delays processing returns with earned income tax credits and child tax credits.

Common reasons your specific refund might be delayed include: a mismatch between the income reported on your return and what your employer or bank reported to the tax authority; missing or incorrect information on your return (such as a wrong bank account number for direct deposit); or a flag for potential fraud or identity theft that requires manual verification.

If your refund has not arrived within the timeframes listed above, do not assume it is lost. Check your status first, then contact the tax authority if the status has not updated in the expected window.

What to do if your refund status shows an error or does not update

If the online tool shows an error message or your status has not changed in more than the expected timeframe, gather your tax return documents and contact the tax authority directly. For the ATO, call 13 28 61 (within Australia) or use the online chat service through your myGov account. For the IRS, call 1-800-829-1040 (within the United States).

Have ready: your tax file number or Social Security number, the date you lodged or filed your return, the refund amount you expected, and your current contact details. The tax authority can then look up your specific return and tell you whether it is still processing, whether additional information is needed, or whether the refund has been sent but not yet received by your bank.

If you used a tax agent or tax software to file, they cannot access the tax authority's processing system on your behalf. You will need to contact the tax authority yourself, though you can ask your agent or software provider to help you gather the documents you will need.

If your refund was sent but you have not received it

Once the tax authority confirms your refund was sent, the next step depends on the payment method. If it was sent by direct deposit, contact your bank and provide them with the date the refund was sent and the amount. Banks can trace direct deposits and tell you whether the money arrived in their system but was rejected (for example, because the account number was closed or incorrect).

If the refund was sent by check, wait at least 21 days from the date shown in the online status before assuming it is lost. Checks can take 2 to 3 weeks to arrive by mail. If 21 days have passed and you have not received it, contact the tax authority again and request a replacement check or a direct deposit to a different account.

Do not contact your accountant or tax software provider about a missing refund — they have no access to the payment system. The tax authority is the only body that can reissue or trace a refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check someone else's refund status?

No. Both the ATO and IRS require you to log in with your own credentials or provide your own identifying information. You cannot check a spouse's, family member's, or client's refund status unless they have given you power of attorney or you are their registered tax agent. If you are a tax agent, you can check your client's status through your agent portal.

Why does the online tool say my refund was sent but my bank shows no deposit?

Direct deposits can be rejected if your account number is incorrect, the account has been closed, or the bank's system rejected the deposit for a technical reason. Contact your bank with the date the refund was sent and ask them to trace it. If it was rejected, the tax authority will usually resend it to a different account or as a check once you notify them.

How long should I wait before calling about a delayed refund?

For the ATO, wait at least 2 weeks from lodgement if your return is straightforward, or 8 weeks if the ATO indicated they needed to verify information. For the IRS, wait at least 21 days from the date shown in "Where's My Refund?" before calling. If the status has not updated beyond that window, contact the tax authority.

Will my refund status change if the tax authority finds an error on my return?

Yes. If the ATO or IRS finds an error that reduces your refund, they will contact you by mail and update your online status to show the revised amount. If they find an error that increases your refund, they will process the additional amount and send it to you. You will see the change reflected in your online status before the money arrives.