"Where’s my refund?" is the most common question during the tax season. Every taxpayer wants to know this when filing a federal return. Tax season is here, and so are the IRS refund requests. This year it is expected to receive larger-than-average IRS refunds. It is necessary to know how to track your refund and what can freeze it.
The IRS will accept more than 164 million tax returns this season.
New rules, filing errors, and staffing shortages can delay IRS refund payments. It is a must to understand how the IRS refund process works and how to use the Where’s My Refund tool.
You have the right to ask for a tax refund. But do you know that the IRS can temporarily block your refund?
Even the smallest mistake in your filing can ruin your chances of getting a quick refund.
It is necessary that you know how an IRS refund works and how to avoid a temporary freeze on your tax refund and use Where’s My Refund.
Here is everything you must know!
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IRS Where’s My Refund Tool:
Where’s My Refund? It is the IRS tool available on its official website. Taxpayers use it to track tax refunds.
The online refund tracking system allows taxpayers to monitor the progress of their federal tax refund.
You can track from when the IRS accepts your refund request to when the refund is issued.
Ways to access the Where’s My Refund tool:
IRS updates refund information once a day overnight.
To check the refund status on Where’s My Refund, you must provide:
- Social Security number (SSN) or ITIN
- Filing status
- Exact refund amount (you can check that on your tax return).
Remember: Incorrect information is the common reason why you cannot access refund status.
When to Check “Where’s My Refund?”
You can access your refund status only after filing the IRS refund application.
- Within 24 Hours: After e-filing a tax return, you can check its status within 24 hours.
- About 4 Weeks: After mailing a paper return, you can check the status after 4 weeks.
Checking the status of your IRS refund multiple times will not speed up the process. Wait for the IRS to enter your refund details into their system.
IRS Refund Status Messages:
When checking IRS refund status, you may see one of these 3 messages:
- Return Received: It means that the IRS has received your return request and it is under processing. You do not need to perform any action unless the IRS contacts you.
- Refund Approved: You will see this status message when the IRS processes your return and approves the refund. It will display a refund date or mailing date.
- Refund Sent: As the name suggests, this status message means that the IRS has released your refund via mail or direct deposit. Your bank and postal service may take some time to deliver the refund.
How Long Does It Take to Get an IRS Refund?
The standard IRS refund timeline can be from 21 days to 16 weeks.
It depends upon the following scenarios:
- E-file with direct deposit: It usually takes up to 21 days to process the refund.
- Paper Return: It takes up to 4 weeks to process your tax return.
- Amended return: It can take as long as 16 weeks.
Note: Always choose electronic and direct deposit to receive funds faster.
Refund Timing for EITC and Child Tax Credit Filers:
Federal law puts mandatory delays on the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
No matter when you have filed the return, you will only receive these refunds in the month of March.
In this case, the Where’s My Refund tool will provide estimated deposit dates.
Why Your IRS Refund May Be Delayed or Frozen:
Filing errors:
Filing errors are the most common reasons why your IRS refund will be delayed.
- The common filing errors are
- Wrong social security number
- Calculation mistakes
- Mismatch in income information
Invalid or Missing Information:
Missing or incorrect bank details information can lead to delayed returns. This year, paper refund checks are being phased out. It is necessary to choose direct deposit.
Identity Verification Issues:
If the IRS believes that the identity is stolen, then it may freeze or delay the processing until verification is completed.
Manual Review of Credits:
Certain deductions, ACTC, and EITC require manual reviews. These take more time to complete the process.
IRS Staffing Shortages:
The government shutdown can lead to an IRS workforce shortage. This can also delay the process.
New Direct Deposit Rules and Frozen Refunds:
Trump signed a new executive order that enforces the new direct deposit rules.
Taxpayers must provide direct deposit information.
- Without valid bank information:
- Refund may temporarily freeze
- Receive CP53E notice
You get 30 days to update correct information online.
Note: Failure to provide details and correct information can delay the paper check process more than 6 weeks.
What to Do If “Where’s My Refund” Status hasn’t changed:
You must have patience to let the IRS process your refund request.
Here is what you can do if Where’s My Refund shows no update:
- Wait for 21 days after e-filing.
- Confirm that the IRS has received and accepted your return.
- Recheck your filing status and refund amount.
Checking the request status multiple times or calling the IRS will not help you. You need to wait for the duration of the process.
How to Get IRS Funds Faster:
The only thing you can do is to ensure that you have not made any mistake during the process of e-filing.
Here is how you can minimize the delay:
- Electronic filing
- Direct deposit
- Double-check information for discrepancies.
- Avoid running numbers.
- Keep copies of confirmation emails and return.
Remember: Filing early will reduce the risk of identity theft.
Conclusion:
Where’s My Refund is a reliable tool to check the status of your IRS refund. But to use it wisely, you must read this post and learn how return works, how much time it takes, and why it causes delays.
The IRS expects larger refunds due to the increased number of direct deposits. IRS staffing shortages can cause delays. It is necessary that you monitor your refund status regularly on the IRS's official website.
FAQs:
Can you track state tax refunds in the same way?
No. Where’s My Refund only tracks federal refunds.
Why the IRS says not to rely on a refund date?
The IRS says that process can be delayed due to many reasons. It is best that taxpayers do not rely on refund dates.
How often is refund information updated?
The IRS updates refund information overnight, and it happens once a day.
Can the tool be wrong?
It is accurate but may lag due to internal processes.
Does calling the IRS help?
No.
Can my bank delay my refund?
Yes.
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