How to Track Your Tax Refund and Check Its Status Online

The majority of refunds are processed within three weeks. If you're short on cash and desperately need the money, waiting for your tax refund to arrive in your mailbox, or bank account can be difficult. Perhaps you're simply looking forward to using it. In either case, you'll want to know when you can expect it. You can check the status of your refund using an online tool provided by the IRS. If your refund does not arrive within the time frame you expect, there is a process for tracking down missing refunds.

Important Points to Remember

The IRS's online "Where's My Refund?" tool is the most convenient way to track down the status of your federal tax refund status.
A "Where's My Refund?" tool is also included in the IRS2GO mobile app, which you can download for free from Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.
If you e-filed your tax return, you can call the IRS, but you should wait at least three weeks before doing so.
If your refund has gone missing, the IRS will track it down for you.

The 'Where's My Refund?' Web-based application

If you choose direct deposit and e-file your tax return, the IRS claims to issue nine out of ten refunds within three weeks. If you file a paper return, it may take six to eight weeks to receive your refund. To check the status of your refund, go to the IRS website and go to Where's My Refund? Every 24 hours, the tool is updated. You'll need the following information:

As it appears on your tax return, your Social Security number or Employer Identification Number
You claimed the following filing status on your return: single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or qualifying widow (er)
The amount of your refund as shown on your tax return

You'll be taken to a Refund Status Results screen when you enter this information. One of three things should appear on this screen:

The return has been received.
The refund has been approved.
A refund has been issued.

Important: The IRS strongly advises taxpayers to file electronically and have their refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts. This will help everyone speed up the process. You should see an estimated deposit date in your bank account if your refund has been approved. There should also be a deadline for contacting your bank if you haven't received your refund by that time. The IRS2Go app is a mobile version of the IRS2Go website. You can use your laptop or desktop computer to access the Where's My Refund tool, or you can use the IRS2Go app if you prefer to use your mobile device. The app can be downloaded for free from iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon. It can be used to:

Check the status of your refund.
If you owe taxes, make a payment.
Free tax advice is available.
For some online IRS services, you'll need security codes.

By December 11, 2020, the IRS had issued over 125 million refunds for the tax year 2020. The average refund was $2,549, according to the data. Over 169 million individual tax returns were processed in total.

Contacting the Internal Revenue Service

Unless the Where's My Refund tool tells you to, please don't call the IRS to check on your refund status unless it's been at least three weeks (21 days) since you filed electronically or six weeks since you mailed in your paper return. Call toll-free 800-829-1954 to get information about your refund from an automated line.

Tracking Down a Missing Refund Check

If you misplace or lose your paper check, there is a procedure in place. By calling 800-829-1954 or filling out and mailing Form 3911, the Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, you can ask the IRS to track it down. The IRS will examine the check to see if it was cashed. If the check were cashed, it would generate a claims package that includes a copy of the endorsed cashed check. Following a review, including the signature on the back of the cashed check, the agency will decide whether to issue a replacement check. This procedure can take up to six weeks to complete. Note: If the check isn't cashed, it will also issue a replacement check. The safest way to receive your refund is through direct deposit (an electronic transfer of funds directly to your bank account). Once you have a paper check in your hands, you won't have to worry about it getting lost in the mail, stolen, or misplaced. However, the IRS allows no more than three direct deposits into the same bank account per tax year. If you're expecting a direct deposit and the expected date has passed, check with your bank to see if the refund has arrived. If you enter your bank account number or routing information incorrectly on your tax return, your refund could go missing, so double-check it. If your refund hasn't yet been posted to the IRS system, you can ask for the deposit to be halted. Warning: The IRS cannot compel a bank to redirect refunds that have been deposited to the incorrect account. To recover the funds, you may need to pursue the matter with the bank or the owner of the incorrect account, possibly through a lawsuit.

What Happens If You Submit an Amended Return?

You may need to amend your tax return if you missed a key income statement or failed to claim a valuable deduction. It may be necessary to amend your return in order to calculate the correct amount of taxes owed or the refund due to you. If you file an amended return, you can still check the status of your refund on the IRS website. Enter your Social Security number, birth date, and ZIP code. After you submit an amended return, it may take up to three weeks for it to appear in the IRS system. It could take another 16 weeks to process, so be patient while you wait for your refund.

Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will my tax refund take to show up in my bank account?

If you e-filed and chose direct deposit as your method of payment, it can take up to three weeks for the IRS to send your refund. The time it takes for funds to appear in your account varies by bank. Once the IRS sends your refund electronically, it takes one to five business days for your deposit to appear. If you chose a paper check for some reason, your refund could take six to eight weeks to arrive.

What is the status of my tax refund?

If it's been less than three weeks since you e-filed for direct deposit or less than six weeks since you mailed in for a paper check, your refund is almost certainly still being processed. After that period, you can contact the IRS to inquire about the delay. Errors on your return, a direct deposit account mismatch, or the fact that you filed an amended return could all be reasons for the delay.