The code "30 INT" on a tax refund means the IRS paid you interest on your refund

When you see "30 INT" on a bank deposit or statement, it means the Internal Revenue Service included interest along with your tax refund. The "30" is an IRS transaction code, and "INT" stands for interest. This happens when the IRS takes longer than a certain number of days to send you money you overpaid in taxes.

The IRS does not pay interest on every refund — only when they owe you the money past a specific important date. Think of it like this: you lent the government money all year through taxes withheld from your paycheck. If they take too long to give it back, they pay you a small amount for the use of your money.

This is not a sign of a problem or an error. It is actually a sign that your refund was delayed, and the IRS is compensating you for that delay.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS pays interest on refunds that take longer than 45 days from the date you filed your return to reach your bank account.
  • The interest rate changes quarterly and is set by the IRS based on federal rates; it is typically a small amount, often between 1 and 8 percent per year.
  • You do not have to do anything to receive this interest — the IRS calculates and includes it automatically when your refund is processed.
  • The interest is taxable income, and you may receive a Form 1099-INT in the mail if the amount is large enough, though many people do not receive one for small interest payments.

How the IRS calculates interest on delayed refunds

The IRS begins counting days from the date you filed your return, not from the date you earned the income. If your refund arrives more than 45 days after you filed, the IRS owes you interest on the full refund amount for each day past that 45-day mark.

The interest rate itself changes every three months. The IRS publishes a new rate on the first day of January, April, July, and October each year. The rate is tied to the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Because of this, the rate varies from year to year and quarter to quarter — it might be 2 percent one quarter and 5 percent the next, depending on what the federal rate is doing.

The IRS does the math for you. You do not calculate it yourself or request it. When they process your refund, they automatically add the interest to the amount they send to your bank account.

Why your refund might have taken longer than 45 days

Several things can slow down a refund. If you filed on paper instead of electronically, processing takes longer — sometimes several weeks longer. If your return had errors or was flagged for review, the IRS had to investigate before releasing your money. If you claimed certain tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, the law requires the IRS to hold your refund until mid-February even if you filed in January.

During tax season, when millions of returns arrive at once, delays are common even for straightforward returns with no problems. The IRS processes returns in the order they arrive, and volume alone can push refunds past the 45-day window.

A refund that arrives in 30 days would not include interest. A refund that arrives in 60 days would include interest for the 15 days past the 45-day threshold.

Whether you owe taxes on the interest you received

Yes, the interest the IRS pays you is taxable income. You must report it on your next tax return. However, the amount is usually small enough that it does not change your tax situation much.

If the interest payment is $10 or more, the IRS will send you a Form 1099-INT in the mail by January 31 of the following year. You will use this form to report the interest on your tax return. If the interest is less than $10, you still owe tax on it, but the IRS does not send a form — you report it yourself on your return.

The interest income goes on your Form 1040 or 1040-SR in the section for interest and dividend income. If you use tax software, it will ask you whether you received interest from the IRS and let you enter the amount.

What to do if you see "30 INT" on your statement

You do not need to take any action. The interest has already been added to your refund and deposited into your account. Keep the deposit record and any Form 1099-INT you receive, because you will need it when you file your next return.

If you want to verify that the interest amount is correct, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and provide your Social Security number and the tax year in question. They can tell you the exact date your return was filed and the exact date your refund was processed, which lets you calculate the number of days the refund was delayed.

You can also check the IRS interest rate for the quarter your refund was processed on the IRS website under "Interest Rates" to see what rate was used.

The difference between "30 INT" and other refund codes

The IRS uses different codes for different types of refund transactions. "30 INT" specifically means interest on a delayed refund. You might also see codes like "30" (the refund itself), "29" (an amended return refund), or "71" (a payment toward a tax debt). Each code tells you what part of your account activity that deposit or deduction represents.

If you see multiple codes on your statement from the same tax year, they are usually related to the same refund — the main refund amount under one code and the interest under "30 INT". Together, they make up the total amount the IRS sent you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get interest if my refund arrived in 40 days?

No. The IRS only pays interest if your refund takes longer than 45 days from the date you filed. A refund that arrives in 40 days is within the window and does not earn interest.

What if the interest amount seems wrong?

Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and tax year. They can confirm the filing date, processing date, and the interest rate that was applied. The calculation is straightforward once you have those dates.

Do I have to report the interest if it is only a few dollars?

Yes, all interest income is taxable, even small amounts. If it is less than $10, you report it yourself on your tax return without a Form 1099-INT. If it is $10 or more, the IRS sends you the form.

Will the interest change my tax refund or bill next year?

The interest is added to your taxable income, which might slightly increase the tax you owe or reduce the refund you receive next year. The effect is usually small because the interest amount is typically modest.

What if I filed electronically but still got interest?

Electronic filing is faster, but delays still happen — the IRS might have flagged your return for review, or you might have claimed credits that require a hold. If your refund took more than 45 days regardless of how you filed, you earn interest.