Where your refund is and how long it should take

A refund that doesn't show up when you expected it is usually stuck in one of three places: the IRS is still processing your return, your bank is holding the deposit, or there's a mismatch between the account number you provided and the one the IRS is trying to deposit into.

The IRS says most refunds arrive within 21 days of when they accept your return. That clock starts the day the IRS receives and processes your filing, not the day you submit it. If you filed electronically, this usually happens within a few days. If you mailed a paper return, add another week or two before the clock even starts.

Once the IRS sends the money to your bank, your bank typically deposits it within one to three business days. Some banks are slower. A few hold refunds for up to five business days as a fraud check, especially if the deposit is large or the account is new.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS processes most returns within 21 days of accepting them, but paper returns take longer to reach the IRS in the first place.
  • Your bank may hold a refund deposit for one to five business days after the IRS sends it, depending on your bank's policies.
  • A mismatch between your tax return and your bank account — wrong routing number, wrong account number, or a closed account — will send your refund back to the IRS, which then mails you a check.
  • You can check the status of your refund using the IRS Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov, which updates once a day.
  • If your refund is more than 21 days late and the IRS tool shows it was accepted, contact your bank before contacting the IRS.

How to check the status yourself

The IRS Where's My Refund tool is the fastest way to see what stage your refund is in. Go to IRS.gov, find the Where's My Refund section, and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight.

The tool will tell you one of three things: the IRS is still processing your return, the IRS has approved your refund and sent it to your bank, or there's a problem with your return that's holding it up. If it says your refund was sent to your bank, note the date. Your bank should have it within one to three business days after that date.

If the tool says your return is still being processed and it's been more than 21 days since you filed, something unusual is happening — your return may have been selected for review, or there may be an error on it that the IRS caught.

When the money went back to the IRS

If your bank rejected the deposit, the IRS will send you a check instead. This happens when the routing number or account number on your tax return doesn't match a real account, or when the account has been closed. The IRS doesn't try to deposit again — it just mails a check to the address on your return.

A check from the IRS takes seven to ten business days to arrive by mail, sometimes longer depending on your location. If you provided a wrong account number by mistake, you won't know the deposit failed until you don't see the money and the IRS tool still shows it was sent.

To learn about this happened, call your bank and ask whether a deposit from the IRS was rejected in the last month. If it was, the bank can tell you why. Then check the IRS Where's My Refund tool again — it should eventually update to show that a check is being mailed instead.

What your bank might be doing

Even after the IRS sends your refund, your bank can hold it. Banks do this for several reasons: the account is brand new, the deposit is unusually large, there's been fraud on the account recently, or the bank is straightforward following its standard hold policy for all incoming deposits.

Most banks hold refunds for one to three business days. Some hold them for up to five. A few banks hold large refunds longer. If your bank is holding the money, you won't see it in your account, but the IRS Where's My Refund tool will show that the refund was sent.

Call your bank's customer service line and tell them you're expecting a refund deposit from the IRS. They can tell you whether the deposit has arrived and whether it's on hold. If it's on hold, they can tell you when it will be released. If it hasn't arrived yet, ask them how long they typically take to process incoming deposits.

When to contact the IRS

Contact the IRS only after you've checked the Where's My Refund tool and confirmed with your bank that the deposit hasn't arrived. The IRS phone line gets very busy during tax season, and you may wait on hold for a long time.

Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you whether your refund was sent and to which account. If the IRS shows it sent the money but your bank says it never arrived, the IRS can investigate further and may issue a replacement check.

If your return is still being processed after 21 days, the IRS can tell you why. Common reasons include a mismatch in your name or Social Security number, missing information on the return, or selection for a review.

If your refund was sent to the wrong account

If you accidentally gave the IRS the wrong account number, the deposit will be rejected and a check will be mailed instead. You can't redirect a deposit that's already been sent — the IRS doesn't have the ability to recall it or send it somewhere else.

The best you can do is wait for the check to arrive. If you're certain the account number was wrong, you can call the IRS and ask them to confirm what account they sent it to. They won't be able to change it, but they can confirm whether the deposit was rejected, which tells you a check is on the way.

If the deposit somehow went into the wrong account at your bank, that's between you and your bank. Your bank can investigate, but they can't force the other account holder to return money that was deposited into their account by mistake.

Refunds delayed because of return problems

If the IRS Where's My Refund tool says your return is still being processed after 21 days, the IRS has likely found an issue. Common problems include a name or Social Security number that doesn't match IRS records, a missing signature, math errors, or a claim that triggered a review.

The IRS will send you a letter explaining what's wrong. This letter arrives by mail and can take one to two weeks. The letter will tell you what information is missing or what needs to be corrected, and it will give you a important date to respond.

If you think your return might have a problem, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask. They can tell you whether your return is under review and why. Don't wait for the letter — calling can sometimes speed things up.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my bank is holding my refund?

Call your bank's customer service number and tell them you're expecting a refund from the IRS. They can see whether the deposit has arrived and whether it's on hold. If it's on hold, they'll tell you when it will be released. Most holds last one to three business days.

What if the IRS tool says my refund was sent but my bank says they never got it?

This usually means the deposit was rejected because of a wrong account number or a closed account. The IRS will mail a check instead, which takes seven to ten business days. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm the account number they have on file and ask whether the deposit was rejected.

Can I change my bank account after I've filed?

No. Once you file, the IRS will send your refund to the account number on your return. If that account is wrong or closed, the deposit will be rejected and you'll receive a check by mail instead. You cannot update your account information after filing.

Why is my refund taking longer than 21 days?

The most common reasons are that your return is being reviewed by the IRS, there's a mismatch in your name or Social Security number, or the IRS found an error on your return. The IRS will send you a letter explaining the delay. You can also call 1-800-829-1040 to ask whether your return is under review.

What happens if I never get my refund?

If more than 60 days have passed since the IRS accepted your return and you still haven't received it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. They can investigate and issue a replacement check if the original deposit was lost or rejected. Bring your return and the date the IRS said it was sent.