With tax season well underway, many taxpayers are eager to learn when they can expect to receive their IRS refund. Keep track of your payment status because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expects nearly 140 million returns between now and April 15, 2025.
Fortunately, the Internal Revenue Service’s useful online service known as “Where’s My Refund?” allows consumers to quickly and easily check the status of their tax returns. Following that, you can easily manage the refund process.
3 easy steps to check the status of your IRS refund if it hasn’t arrived yet
The IRS2Go smartphone app and the IRS’s Where’s My Refund? service are useful tools for determining the status of your payment. To access your information, you will need a few key details:
- Your Social Security or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- Your filing status (married, single, etc.).
- The precise repayment of your projected amount.
After filing, you can use this tool to track the status of your IRS refund, which is updated every 24 hours. If you use direct deposit and e-file, you should receive your refund within 21 days or less. However, if you file a paper return, you may have to wait longer—up to four weeks or more.
Depending on your file, the time it takes to receive your refund can vary greatly. As previously stated, if you choose direct deposit and file electronically, you should receive your refund within eight to fifteen days.
However, if you file a paper return, the processing time may be longer than four weeks. As a result, the federal agency advises against relying on a specific date for your IRS refund, especially if you have large purchases or expenses that are due soon.
Your payment schedule may also be impacted because refunds for the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will not be issued before the middle of February.
Why do some IRS refund checks don’t arrive on the scheduled date?
Even though most refunds are processed quickly, a few things may take longer than anticipated. Here are some common problems to be aware of:
- Returns with errors or missing information: The IRS may request that you file an amended return, which could cause delays if your tax return has errors or is missing important information.
- Requesting particular credit: Your IRS refund schedule will be further delayed if you file early in the season since refunds associated with the EITC or extra Child Tax Credit won’t be issued until mid-February.
- Returns of paper: Compared to e-filing, paper returns are often submitted more slowly. A longer wait is to be expected if you additionally decide to obtain your refund by paper check.
- Concerns about identity theft: The IRS may postpone processing your refund if they believe that your return contains evidence of fraud or identity theft.
If you’re worried about a delayed return, the Where’s My Refund? feature is a good place to start. If your return has been waiting for more than 21 days after electronic filing or six weeks after mailing a paper return, your best option is to contact the IRS for assistance.
Tax season does not have to be a stressful experience if you have access to tools like the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?”
You can effectively monitor the status of your IRS refund and modify your financial planning by gathering and submitting the necessary data and being informed of any delays. Staying proactive and closely monitoring the status of your refund is critical, and you should not be afraid to contact the IRS if you have any issues.
