The "30 INT" code means the IRS paid you interest on a delayed refund

30 INT is an IRS code that appears on your tax refund check, your IRS transcript, or your refund status when the agency has added interest to your refund because it arrived late. The number "30" refers to the interest rate calculation method the IRS uses, and "INT" stands for interest. You do not have to do anything with this code — it is simply the IRS documenting that it owed you money for the delay and has included it in your refund.

The IRS is required by law to pay interest on refunds that are not issued within 45 days of the tax return's due date or the date you filed, whichever is later. The interest rate changes quarterly and is set by the IRS based on the federal short-term rate. For 2024, the rate has ranged from 8 percent to 9 percent per year, depending on the quarter. The interest accrues daily from the due date of your return until the date the IRS issues your refund.

If you see 30 INT on your refund, it means your refund took longer than 45 days to process, and the IRS calculated and added the interest owed to you automatically. You receive the full amount — principal plus interest — in a single payment.

Key Takeaways

  • 30 INT means the IRS added interest to your refund because it took longer than 45 days to process.
  • The IRS is legally required to pay interest on delayed refunds, and the rate changes quarterly.
  • You do not need to claim the interest or take any action — it is included in your refund check or deposit automatically.
  • The interest amount is usually small, typically a few dollars to a few dozen dollars depending on the refund size and delay length.
  • You may see 30 INT on your check stub, your IRS transcript, or your online refund status tracker.

When the IRS starts counting the 45-day clock

The 45-day window begins on the later of two dates: the official due date of your tax return (April 15 for most people filing a 1040) or the date you actually filed your return. If you filed early in February, the clock starts April 15. If you filed on April 10, the clock starts April 15. If you filed on May 1, the clock starts May 1.

The IRS counts 45 calendar days from that date. If day 45 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day. If your refund is issued on or before day 45, you receive no interest. If it is issued after day 45, you receive interest for each day of the delay, calculated at the quarterly rate in effect during the period your money was delayed.

Most refunds are issued well within 45 days — the IRS reports that about 90 percent of refunds are issued within 21 days of filing. Delays that trigger interest usually happen when the IRS needs to verify information on your return, when you claimed a refundable credit like the Earned Income Tax Credit, or when there was an error that required correction.

How much interest you receive

The interest amount depends on three things: the size of your refund, how many days past 45 the IRS took to issue it, and what the quarterly interest rate was during that period. The calculation is straightforward but the result is usually modest.

For example, a $3,000 refund delayed 60 days at an 8 percent annual rate would earn roughly $40 in interest. A $1,000 refund delayed 30 days at the same rate would earn about $6.50. The IRS calculates this automatically and includes it in the amount deposited to your bank account or mailed to you as a check.

You do not have to report this interest separately on a future tax return — it is not income you earned, and the IRS does not send you a 1099 form for it. It is simply compensation for the time your money was held.

Where you will see the 30 INT code

The code appears in different places depending on how you check your refund status. If you use the IRS's Where's My Refund tool online, you may see a note that interest has been added. If you receive a paper check, the stub or notation on the back may reference 30 INT. If you request an IRS transcript of your account, the code will appear on the transcript showing all transactions related to your return.

If your refund was deposited directly to your bank account, you will see the full amount (principal plus interest) in a single deposit. Your bank statement will not break out the interest separately — it is one lump sum. The only place you will see the 30 INT code is on IRS documents or transcripts.

Why your refund was delayed

Refunds are delayed for several common reasons. The IRS may need to verify your identity, especially if you filed electronically and the return raised a security flag. If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS is required by law to hold your refund until mid-February, even if you filed in January — this is called the EITC holding period and is not a processing delay, but it does trigger interest if the refund is not issued by day 45.

Errors on your return also cause delays. If you reported income that does not match what your employer or bank reported to the IRS, the agency will contact you to resolve the discrepancy before issuing your refund. If you forgot to sign the return or did not include a required form, the IRS will send you a notice asking you to correct it.

High filing volume in March and April can also slow processing, though the IRS has been working to reduce this. If you filed during a period when the IRS was dealing with a backlog — such as the years following the pandemic — your refund may have been delayed simply because of volume.

What to do if you see 30 INT but think your refund should not have been delayed

If you believe your refund was delayed in error or for a reason that should not have caused a delay, you can contact the IRS to ask why. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (for individual returns) and have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you what caused the delay and whether it was justified.

You cannot reverse or decline the interest payment — it is part of your refund and will be included in your deposit or check. However, if the delay was caused by an IRS error (not a mistake on your return), you may be able to file a claim for damages under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. This is rare and requires documentation that the IRS acted negligently, so most people simply accept the interest as compensation for the inconvenience.

If you did not receive the interest you expected, or if you see 30 INT but the amount seems wrong, request a copy of your IRS account transcript. You can order this free from IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-829-1040. The transcript will show the exact dates and amounts the IRS used to calculate your interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on the interest I received?

No. Interest paid by the IRS on a delayed refund is not taxable income. You do not report it on your next tax return, and the IRS does not send you a 1099 form for it. It is compensation for the delay, not earnings.

Can I get more interest if my refund was delayed longer than 45 days?

No. The IRS calculates interest from day 46 onward at the quarterly rate in effect during the delay period. You receive whatever interest accrued; you cannot request additional interest or a higher rate. The calculation is automatic and final.

What if I see 30 INT on my transcript but did not receive the interest in my refund check?

Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your return information. It is possible the interest was applied to a prior-year debt or tax liability you owed, which the IRS can do automatically. Request an account transcript to see where the interest went.

Does 30 INT mean something different if I see it on a state tax refund?

State tax agencies use their own codes, so 30 INT may not mean the same thing on a state refund. Contact your state tax agency directly to ask what the code means. Most states do pay interest on delayed refunds, but the rate and calculation method vary by state.

Will I see 30 INT every year if my refund is always delayed?

Only if your refund is delayed past 45 days in that specific year. The 45-day clock resets with each tax return you file. If your 2024 refund was delayed but your 2025 refund is issued within 45 days, you will not see 30 INT on your 2025 return.