Key Takeaways
- Refundable credits like EITC and ACTC are held by the IRS and released separately, usually in late February or early March, even if your main refund arrived earlier.
- You can see the status of each refund payment in your IRS online account under "Where's My Refund" or by calling 1-800-829-1040.
- The IRS processes amended returns and returns with certain schedules more slowly, which can delay part of your refund by weeks or months.
- If you claimed a credit that requires verification — like the Child Tax Credit with a new dependent — the IRS may hold that portion while it reviews your claim.
- A missing refund payment is usually not lost; it is delayed and will arrive once the IRS completes its processing of that specific part of your return.
How the IRS splits refunds into separate payments
The IRS does not always send your entire refund in one deposit. When you file a return that includes both regular income tax withholding and refundable credits, the agency processes them through different systems on different schedules. Your main refund — the amount withheld from your paychecks minus what you owe in tax — may arrive within 21 days of filing. But the EITC and ACTC, which are refundable credits that can result in a payment to you even if you owe no tax, are held and released later.
This delay is intentional. The IRS uses the extra time to verify that you meet the requirements for these credits, particularly the EITC, which has strict income and filing-status rules. If you claimed a child dependent for the first time, or if your income changed significantly, the IRS may hold the credit portion of your refund for additional review before releasing it.
You will see both payments in your IRS account, and both will show separate deposit dates. The first payment is usually your main refund. The second payment, arriving weeks or months later, is the credit portion.
When to expect the second payment
If you filed early in the tax season — January or early February — your main refund typically arrives within three weeks. The EITC and ACTC portions are released in batches, usually beginning in late February and continuing through March. The IRS does not announce exact dates; instead, it processes these credits in waves based on when your return was received and whether it required additional review.
If you filed later in the season, the timeline compresses. A return filed in April may see both portions arrive closer together, sometimes within days of each other, because the IRS is processing returns more quickly as the important date approaches.
If your return included an amended return (Form 1040-X), a Schedule C (self-employment income), or other complex schedules, the IRS may hold your entire refund for manual review. This can add four to eight weeks to the timeline, and you may receive multiple payments as different parts of your return clear review.
How to check the status of each payment
The IRS tool "Where's My Refund" shows the status of each refund payment separately. Log into your IRS account at irs.gov, select "Refund Status," and you will see a list of all refunds associated with your return. Each payment shows a status — "Approved," "Sent," or "Delivered" — and an expected deposit date.
If you see only one payment listed and you know you claimed EITC or ACTC, the second payment has not yet been processed. Check back in a few days; the IRS updates this tool daily. If the second payment shows "Approved" but no deposit date, it is in the queue and will be released within the next batch.
You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and speak with a representative who can see your account in real time. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return ready. The representative can tell you whether a second payment is pending and when it is expected to arrive.
Why part of your refund might be held longer
The IRS holds refund payments for several reasons beyond the standard EITC delay. If you claimed the Child Tax Credit for a dependent the IRS has no record of — a newborn, a newly adopted child, or a dependent you have not claimed before — the agency will verify the Social Security number and relationship before releasing that portion of your refund. This verification can take several weeks.
If your return was flagged for identity verification, the IRS will hold your refund until you respond to a notice. You will receive a letter asking you to confirm your identity, usually through an online portal or by phone. Once you complete this step, the IRS releases your refund within a few business days.
Returns with math errors, missing information, or inconsistencies with prior-year returns are also held. The IRS corrects these issues on its own, but the process takes time. You will receive a notice explaining what was corrected and how it affected your refund amount.
What to do if a payment never arrives
If the IRS shows a refund payment as "Delivered" but you have not received it after five business days, contact your bank first. Ask whether the deposit was received and rejected, or whether it is still pending. Some banks hold deposits for 24 to 48 hours before posting them to your account, particularly if the deposit is larger than usual.
If your bank confirms the deposit was never received, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The representative can confirm the account number and routing number the IRS has on file for you. If the information is incorrect, the IRS will reissue the payment to the correct account, which takes an additional 21 days.
If the IRS shows a payment as "Approved" but no deposit date appears, and more than 21 days have passed since you filed, contact the IRS. A representative can investigate whether the payment is stuck in processing or whether additional information is needed from you.
Amended returns and split refunds
If you filed an amended return (Form 1040-X) after your original return, the IRS processes the amendment separately. Your original refund may have arrived, but the amended return creates a second refund or adjustment. Amended returns are processed manually and take eight to twelve weeks from the date the IRS receives them.
You will see both the original refund and the amended refund in your IRS account. The original shows as "Delivered." The amended refund shows separately with its own status and expected date. Do not assume the second payment is lost; it is straightforward on a slower processing track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my EITC refund faster if I call the IRS?
No. The IRS releases EITC payments on a set schedule regardless of how many times you contact them. Calling will not speed up the process, but a representative can confirm the expected date and alert you if your return requires additional review that might delay the payment further.
What if the second payment is for a different amount than I expected?
The IRS may have corrected an error on your return or adjusted your credit based on income verification. You will receive a notice explaining the change. If you disagree with the adjustment, you can file a Form 1040-X to dispute it, but this starts a new eight-to-twelve-week review period.
Is there a way to get both payments at once instead of waiting?
No. The IRS does not offer an option to combine refund payments or expedite the release of held portions. The timeline is fixed based on the type of credit and whether your return requires verification.
What if I never see the second payment in my IRS account?
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask whether a second refund is pending. If your return did not include EITC or ACTC, there may not be a second payment — your refund may have arrived in full. A representative can confirm what your return should have produced.