Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where’s My Refund? tool. It’s available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App.

Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.

Refund timing

Where’s My Refund provides a personalized date after the return is processed and a refund is approved. While most tax refunds are issued within 21 days, some may take longer if the return requires additional review.

Here are a few reasons a tax refund may take longer:

• The return may include errors or be incomplete.
• The return could be affected by identity theft or fraud.
• Many banks do not process payments on weekends or holidays.

The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if more information is needed to process their tax return.

Taxpayers who claimed the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit, can expect to get their refund March 1 if:

• They file their return online
• They choose to get their refund by direct deposit
• The IRS found no issues with their return

Fast and easy refund updates

Taxpayers can start checking on the status of their return within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an electronically filed return or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return. The tool’s tracker displays progress in three phases:

1. Return received
2. Refund approved
3. Refund sent

To use Where’s My Refund?, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, their filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of their refund. The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check more often.

Calling the IRS won’t speed up a tax refund. The information available on Where’s My Refund? is the same information available to IRS phone assistors.