Where to check your federal tax refund

The IRS has a tool called Where's My Refund? that tells you the status of your federal return. You reach it at irs.gov, and it updates once per day, usually overnight. You need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount from your tax return to use it.

Where's My Refund? shows three possible statuses: your return is being processed, your refund has been approved and a payment date has been set, or your refund has been sent. If it says your refund was sent, the tool also tells you the delivery method—direct deposit to your bank account or a check mailed to your address—and the date it should arrive.

You can also call the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. Have your return in front of you. The wait time is usually shorter early in the morning or late in the week, and the line is closed on weekends and federal holidays.

Key Takeaways

  • Where's My Refund? on irs.gov is the official tool to track your federal refund and updates once daily.
  • You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount to check your status.
  • The tool shows whether your return is still being processed, approved with a payment date set, or already sent.
  • If your refund was sent by direct deposit, it typically arrives within one to two business days; by check, five to seven business days.
  • State tax refunds are tracked through your state's tax agency website, not the IRS.

What the different statuses mean

Return Received means the IRS has your return but has not finished reviewing it yet. This is normal and can take several weeks, especially early in tax season (January through March). If you filed electronically, this status usually appears within 24 hours. If you mailed a paper return, it can take three to four weeks for the IRS to receive and log it.

Approved means the IRS has reviewed your return, found no issues, and calculated your refund. The tool will show you the date your refund will be sent. This does not mean the money is in your account yet—it means the IRS has authorized the payment and is preparing to send it.

Sent means your refund has left the IRS and is on its way to you. If it was sent by direct deposit, you should see it in your bank account within one to two business days. If it was sent by check, allow five to seven business days for it to arrive by mail. The tool shows the exact date the payment was sent.

Tracking a refund sent by check

If Where's My Refund? says your refund was sent by check, you can track the check itself through the U.S. Postal Service. The IRS does not provide a tracking number for refund checks, but you can use USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that shows you images of mail coming to your address. Sign up at informeddelivery.usps.com with your address, and you will see a photo of your refund check before it arrives.

Refund checks are mailed from an IRS processing center, not your local post office, so they take longer than regular mail. If the check does not arrive within seven business days of the date Where's My Refund? says it was sent, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1954. Have the date the refund was sent and your return information ready.

If your check arrives damaged, torn, or with the ink faded, do not deposit it. Call the IRS instead. They can issue a replacement check or send the money by direct deposit if you provide your bank account information.

Checking your state tax refund

State tax refunds are not tracked through the IRS. Each state runs its own tax system and refund process. Go to your state's tax agency website—usually called the Department of Revenue, Department of Taxation, or similar—and look for a refund status tool. The name and location of this tool varies by state, but most states have one on their main tax page.

State refund tools work the same way as Where's My Refund?: you enter your Social Security number and filing information, and the tool shows whether your return is being processed, approved, or sent. Some states process refunds faster than the federal government; others take longer. State refunds sent by check follow the same timeline as federal checks—five to seven business days after the state says it was sent.

If you filed your federal and state returns together through tax software, you can usually check both statuses from the same account. TurboTax, H&R Block, and other major software providers show refund status for both federal and state returns if you log back in.

What to do if your refund is delayed

If Where's My Refund? says your refund was sent but you have not received it after the expected timeframe, the first step is to confirm the delivery method and date. If it was sent by direct deposit, check with your bank to make sure the deposit did not go to a closed account or an account you no longer use. If you changed banks since you filed, the IRS may have sent the money to your old account.

If the refund was sent by check and more than seven business days have passed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954. They can issue a replacement check or, if you prefer, send the money by direct deposit. You will need to provide your current bank account information and routing number.

If Where's My Refund? shows no status at all—not even "Return Received"—your return may not have been processed yet. This can happen if you filed by mail, if there is an error on your return, or if the IRS is experiencing a backlog. Wait at least three weeks after you filed before contacting the IRS about a missing status.

Why your refund might be held up

The IRS holds some returns for additional review before approving the refund. Common reasons include claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), claiming the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), reporting self-employment income, or having a mismatch between your return and IRS records (such as a name change or incorrect Social Security number). These holds are normal and do not mean you did anything wrong.

Returns with these credits or situations can take 21 days or longer to process, even if you filed electronically. Where's My Refund? will still show "Return Received" during this time. The IRS will contact you by mail if they need more information from you, so check your mailbox regularly.

If the IRS finds an error on your return—a math mistake, a missing form, or conflicting information—they will correct it and send you a notice explaining the change. This can delay your refund by several weeks. The notice will tell you the new refund amount and when it will be sent.

Using tax software to monitor your refund

If you filed through TurboTax, H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, or another tax software provider, you can check your refund status through your account with that company. Log back in with the same username and password you used to file, and look for a "Refund Status" or "Track Your Refund" section. Most software providers pull information directly from the IRS, so the status is the same as what you would see on Where's My Refund?

Some tax software also sends email or text notifications when your refund status changes. If you want these alerts, check your account settings and turn on notifications. This can be helpful if you do not want to check the website manually every day.

If you used a tax preparer or accountant to file your return, ask them whether they can check your refund status for you. Many preparers have access to IRS systems and can pull your status without you having to call the IRS yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Where's My Refund? update?

Where's My Refund? updates once per day, usually overnight. If you check it multiple times in a single day, you will see the same status. There is no benefit to checking more than once daily.

Can I check my refund status without my exact refund amount?

No. Where's My Refund? requires your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. If you do not have your return in front of you, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 and a representative can look up your status with just your Social Security number and filing status.

What if Where's My Refund? says my refund was sent but I never received it?

If it was sent by direct deposit, contact your bank to confirm the money did not go to a closed or old account. If it was sent by check and more than seven business days have passed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 to request a replacement check or direct deposit.

How long does it take to get a refund after Where's My Refund? says it was approved?

If approved for direct deposit, one to two business days. If approved for a check, five to seven business days from the date the IRS says it was sent. The exact timing depends on your bank and the postal service.

Do I need to do anything if Where's My Refund? shows my return is still being processed?

No. Just wait. The IRS will contact you by mail if they need additional information. Do not call or visit an IRS office unless more than 21 days have passed since you filed and the status has not changed.