Check the IRS tracking tool first, before you do anything else

The IRS has a tool called Where's My Refund? that tells you the exact status of your return and refund. Go to irs.gov, find the tool on the homepage, and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount you expect. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight.

The tool will show you one of three things: your refund is still being processed, your refund was sent on a specific date, or there is a problem with your return that needs your attention. If it says your refund was sent but you have not received it, the next step depends on how you chose to receive the money.

If you filed your return more than 21 days ago and the tool still says "processing", or if it says your refund was sent more than a week ago and you have not seen it, move to the section that matches your delivery method below.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool shows whether your refund is processing, was sent, or has a problem — check this before contacting anyone.
  • If you chose direct deposit, the money can take three to five business days to appear in your bank account after the IRS releases it.
  • If you chose a paper check, it can take up to two weeks to arrive by mail after the IRS sends it, and some checks are lost or delayed by the postal service.
  • If your return was rejected or flagged for review, the IRS will mail you a notice explaining what documents or information they need from you.
  • You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if the tracking tool shows your refund was sent more than two weeks ago and you still have not received it.

Direct deposit refunds that have not arrived in your bank account

If you chose direct deposit and the Where's My Refund tool says your refund was sent, the IRS has released the money to your bank. The money should appear in your account within three to five business days after the release date shown in the tool. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a refund released on a Friday may not show up until Wednesday.

Check your bank's website or app and look at your recent transactions. Search for "IRS" or "TREAS" — the deposit will show up under one of those names, not under "tax refund". If you see the deposit has arrived, the problem is solved. If you do not see it after five business days have passed since the release date, contact your bank's customer service line. Give them the exact release date from the tracking tool and ask them to search their records for an incoming wire or ACH transfer from the IRS.

Your bank may tell you the deposit was rejected because the account number or routing number on your tax return was wrong, or because the account was closed. If that happened, the IRS will mail you a check instead, which can take two to three weeks. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to request that they re-send the refund to a different bank account, though this process takes time and you may receive the check before the new deposit goes through.

Paper checks that have not arrived in the mail

If you chose to receive a paper check and the tracking tool says it was sent, the IRS mailed it to the address on your tax return. Checks typically take seven to fourteen business days to arrive by mail, depending on distance and postal service speed. If more than two weeks have passed since the release date and you have not received the check, it may have been lost or delayed by the postal service.

First, confirm that the address on your return was correct. If you moved recently or the IRS has an old address on file, the check went to the wrong place. If the address was wrong, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and they can issue a replacement check to your current address.

If the address was correct but the check has not arrived after three weeks, you can file a claim with the postal service or request a replacement check from the IRS. To request a replacement, call 1-800-829-1040 and have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS will issue a new check, which takes another two to three weeks to arrive. Some people receive both the original and the replacement; if that happens, you must return the duplicate check to the IRS.

Returns that were rejected or flagged for review

If the Where's My Refund tool says there is a problem with your return, or if it has not updated in more than 21 days, the IRS may have rejected your return or flagged it for manual review. The tool will sometimes show a message telling you to contact the IRS, or it may simply say "processing" with no update for weeks.

The IRS will mail you a notice if there is a problem. This notice will explain what is wrong — for example, a missing form, a math error, or a mismatch between your return and IRS records. The notice will also tell you what documents to send back or what information to provide. Check your mailbox for a letter from the IRS, which usually arrives within two to four weeks of when you filed.

If you received a notice, follow the instructions exactly. The notice will have a deadline, usually 30 days from the date on the letter. If you miss the deadline, the IRS may deny your refund or reduce it. If you did not receive a notice but the tracking tool says there is a problem, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and ask them to tell you what the issue is.

Refunds delayed because of identity verification

If the IRS suspects your return may be fraudulent or if your identity could not be verified, they will hold your refund while they investigate. This can add weeks or months to the process. The Where's My Refund tool may show "processing" for a long time, or it may tell you to call the IRS.

The IRS uses a system called IP PIN (Identity Protection PIN) to verify your identity. If you have been a victim of identity theft or if the IRS flagged your return, they may require you to provide an IP PIN before releasing your refund. You can request an IP PIN through the IRS website at irs.gov/ippin, or by calling 1-800-908-4490. The process takes time, and your refund will not be released until the verification is complete.

If you believe your identity was stolen or misused, you can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov. This creates an official record and may help speed up the IRS verification process.

What to do if you have waited more than 21 days

If the Where's My Refund tool says your refund was sent more than 21 days ago and you have not received it, or if the tool has not updated in more than 21 days and still says "processing", you can contact the IRS directly. Call 1-800-829-1040 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time). Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready.

The IRS phone lines are very busy during tax season (January through April), so expect to wait on hold. If you cannot reach anyone, try calling early in the morning or late in the afternoon when wait times are shorter. You can also visit an IRS office in person if there is one near you, though you may need to make an appointment.

If you filed your return through a tax professional or tax software company, you can also contact them to ask whether they have information about your refund status. Some tax software companies offer customer support that can help you understand what the IRS tracking tool is telling you.

Refunds that were offset or garnished

In some cases, the IRS will reduce or withhold your refund to pay off a debt you owe to a federal or state agency. This is called offset or garnishment. Common reasons include unpaid federal student loans, back child support, or unpaid state income taxes. If this happened, the Where's My Refund tool may show that your refund was processed, but the amount will be less than you expected, or it will show zero.

The IRS will mail you a notice explaining the offset and which agency received the money. If you believe the offset was wrong — for example, if you already paid the debt or if the debt belongs to someone else — you can contact the agency that received the money or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to dispute it. The process to reverse an offset can take several months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the IRS take to send a refund after it says "approved"?

Once the Where's My Refund tool shows your refund was approved and sent, it takes three to five business days for direct deposit or seven to fourteen business days for a paper check. The tool shows the exact date the IRS released the money, not the date it will arrive in your account or mailbox.

Can I get my refund faster if I call the IRS?

No. Calling the IRS cannot speed up the refund process. The IRS can only tell you the status of your return and explain why it is delayed. If there is a problem with your return, fixing it may allow the IRS to process it faster, but the refund itself will still take the normal amount of time to arrive once it is approved.

What if the IRS says they sent my refund but my bank says they never received it?

This usually means the account number or routing number on your tax return was incorrect, or the account was closed. Ask your bank to search their records for a rejected deposit from the IRS. If they confirm it was rejected, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and they will issue a replacement check instead.

Do I have to pay taxes on my refund?

No. A tax refund is your own money being returned to you, not income. You do not owe taxes on it.

What if I filed my return electronically but the IRS says they never received it?

Contact the tax software company or tax professional you used to file. They can confirm whether the return was actually transmitted to the IRS and provide you with a confirmation number. If the return was sent but the IRS did not receive it, the software company or tax professional can help you file an amended return or contact the IRS on your behalf.