Start with the IRS, not your bank

If your tax refund has not arrived, the first call should be to the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. They can tell you whether the refund was issued, when it was supposed to arrive, and where it went. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return ready before you call. The IRS can usually answer this question in minutes.

The IRS website also has a tool called Where's My Refund? at irs.gov. You enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount, and it shows the current status — whether the IRS is still processing your return, has issued the refund, or sent it to your bank. This tool updates once per day, usually overnight.

If the IRS says the refund was issued but you never received it, the next step depends on how the IRS sent it. Most refunds go by direct deposit to a bank account. Some go by paper check in the mail.

Key Takeaways

  • Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to find out whether your refund was issued and when it should have arrived.
  • If the IRS issued a direct deposit refund, contact your bank to ask whether the deposit was received and where it went.
  • If the IRS issued a paper check, wait 21 days from the issue date before requesting a replacement, because mail can take that long.
  • If your refund was sent to the wrong bank account, the IRS can issue a new one, but you will need to provide the correct account information.
  • Keep your tax return and the IRS letter showing the refund amount — you will need both to prove the refund was yours.

What to do if the refund was direct deposited

When the IRS issues a refund by direct deposit, it sends the money to the bank account you listed on your tax return. If the IRS says the refund was issued but you do not see it in your account, call your bank's customer service line. Have your account number and the refund amount ready.

Ask the bank whether the deposit arrived. Sometimes a deposit lands in the account but is held for a few days before it shows up in your available balance — this is called a hold. The bank can tell you when the hold will lift. Other times, the deposit went to a closed account, a wrong account number, or an account at a different bank if you switched banks between filing and receiving the refund.

If your bank says it never received the deposit, write down the date you called and what the bank told you. Then call the IRS again and tell them the bank has no record of the deposit. The IRS can issue a replacement refund, but they will need to verify the correct bank account information first.

What to do if the refund was mailed as a check

Paper checks can take up to 21 days to arrive after the IRS issues them. If the IRS says your refund was issued as a check but you have not received it after 21 days, you can request a replacement. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and tell them the check did not arrive. They will ask for your address and may ask you to sign a form saying you did not receive it.

The IRS will then issue a replacement check or direct deposit. This can take another two to four weeks. While you wait, watch your mail carefully — the original check might still arrive. If it does, do not cash both checks. Contact the IRS when ready and tell them the first check arrived.

If you moved since you filed your tax return, the check may have been sent to your old address. Contact the post office and ask them to forward mail from your old address to your new one. If the check was already delivered to your old address, ask the current resident or the post office whether they can help you locate it.

When the refund went to the wrong account

If you changed banks or made a mistake entering your account number on your tax return, the IRS may have sent the refund to an account that is not yours. The bank that received the deposit can sometimes return it to the IRS, but this process is slow and not may provide.

The fastest solution is to call the IRS and provide them with your correct bank account information. They can issue a new refund to the right account. You will need your routing number and account number from your current bank. Ask your bank for these if you do not have them — they are printed on the bottom left of your checks, or you can find them in your online banking portal.

If the refund went to someone else's account by mistake, that person's bank will not release it to you. The IRS will have to work with that bank to return the money. This is why it is important to double-check your account number before you file.

What documents to keep while you investigate

Before you call anyone, gather the documents that prove the refund was yours. You will need a copy of your filed tax return, the IRS letter that came with your refund (if you received one), and any bank statements showing that the deposit did not arrive. If you filed electronically, you should have a confirmation email from the tax software you used.

Write down the date you called the IRS, the time, and the name of the person who helped you. Write down exactly what they told you — the refund amount, the issue date, and how it was supposed to be sent. If the IRS gives you a case number, save it. These notes will help if you need to call back or if the issue takes longer to resolve.

How long the process usually takes

If the IRS needs to issue a replacement refund, it typically takes two to four weeks from the date you request it. Direct deposit replacements usually arrive faster than paper checks. If your refund went to the wrong account, the IRS may need to contact that bank first, which can add another week or two.

During this time, keep checking your bank account and your mail. If the original refund arrives while you are waiting for a replacement, contact the IRS right away so they can stop the replacement. If you cash both, you will owe the money back.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The IRS says to wait at least 21 days after you filed if you chose direct deposit, or 21 days after the issue date if the IRS already issued it. Paper checks can take up to 21 days to arrive by mail. If it has been longer than that, call the IRS.

Can I cancel a refund and get it reissued faster?

No, you cannot cancel a refund once the IRS has issued it. You can only request a replacement if it does not arrive. The replacement process takes the same amount of time as the original refund.

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

This sometimes happens when the account number on your tax return was wrong or the account was closed. Call the IRS again and provide your correct account information. They can issue a new refund to the right account. Bring documentation from your bank showing the deposit never arrived.

Do I have to pay taxes on a refund I receive late?

No. A tax refund is your own money being returned to you, not income. It does not matter when you receive it.

What if I filed my taxes through a tax preparer and they took a fee from my refund?

If a tax preparer took a fee directly from your refund, that fee was deducted before the IRS issued the refund. The IRS will show the smaller amount as the refund issued. If you think the fee was wrong, contact the tax preparer first. If they cannot help, you may be able to file a complaint with your state's tax preparer licensing board.