Start by checking the IRS Where's My Refund tool

The first step is to find out whether the IRS has actually sent your refund or whether it is still being processed. Go to irs.gov/refunds and use the Where's My Refund tool. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return.

The tool shows one of four statuses: your return is being processed, your refund has been approved and a payment date has been set, your refund was sent on a specific date, or there is a problem with your return. If it shows a payment date in the future, your refund is on track and you should wait until that date passes before taking further action.

If the tool says your refund was sent but you have not received it, the next steps depend on how the IRS sent it — by mail, direct deposit, or debit card.

Key Takeaways

  • Check the IRS Where's My Refund tool first to see whether your refund has been sent and, if so, when and how.
  • If your refund was sent by mail, allow up to 21 days from the payment date for it to arrive, then contact the IRS if it does not show up.
  • If your refund was sent by direct deposit, verify the bank account number on your return matches your current account, because a wrong number sends the money to the wrong bank.
  • If your refund was sent to a debit card, check the card's transaction history and contact the card issuer if the deposit does not appear.
  • The IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1040 can issue a trace on a missing refund and tell you whether it was rejected by your bank.

If your refund was sent by direct deposit

Direct deposit is the fastest method, but it only works if the bank account number on your tax return is correct and still active. If you entered the wrong account number, the bank that received the deposit will reject it and send it back to the IRS. This rejection can take 2 to 4 weeks, and then the IRS has to reissue the refund by mail, which adds another 2 to 4 weeks.

Check your tax return to confirm the account number you provided. If it is wrong, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and tell them the correct account number. They can issue a trace to find out whether the deposit was rejected. If it was, ask them to reissue the refund by mail or to a corrected account if you have a new one.

If the account number is correct but the money never arrived, contact your bank directly. Ask them to search their transaction history for a deposit from the U.S. Department of Treasury on the date the IRS says it was sent. If the deposit appears in their system but not in your account, the bank can investigate. If it does not appear at all, the bank can confirm that to the IRS.

If your refund was sent by mail

Paper checks take longer than direct deposit. The IRS typically mails refunds within 21 days of the payment date shown in Where's My Refund, but mail delivery itself can add another 7 to 10 days depending on where you live and where the check is mailed from.

Wait until 21 days after the payment date before assuming the check is lost. If you have not received it by then, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can issue a trace, which means they will search their records to confirm the check was mailed and to what address.

If the trace shows the check was mailed to the wrong address, the IRS can reissue it to the correct one. If the check was mailed to the right address but never arrived, the IRS can issue a replacement check, which typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. You can also request that the replacement be sent by direct deposit if you provide a bank account number.

If your refund was sent to a debit card

Some taxpayers choose to have their refund loaded onto a prepaid debit card issued by the tax software company or a partner bank. If this is how you received your refund, check the card's transaction history first. Log into the card's app or website and look for a deposit from the U.S. Department of Treasury on or shortly after the payment date the IRS provided.

If the deposit appears in the transaction history but the balance has not increased, contact the card issuer's customer service. There may be a hold on the funds, a processing delay, or a technical error. The card issuer can see exactly when the deposit arrived and whether it has been released to your account.

If the deposit does not appear in the transaction history at all, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask them to trace the refund. Provide the card number if you have it. The IRS can confirm whether they sent the money and to which card. If there is a mismatch — for example, if you provided the wrong card number on your return — the IRS can reissue the refund by mail or direct deposit.

What to do if the IRS says your refund was rejected

When the IRS sends a refund by direct deposit and the receiving bank rejects it, the IRS receives a rejection notice. This can happen because the account number is wrong, the account has been closed, the account holder's name does not match the return, or the bank's system flagged the deposit as suspicious.

If a trace reveals a rejection, the IRS will automatically reissue your refund by mail to the address on your return. This reissue takes an additional 2 to 4 weeks. You can speed this up by calling the IRS and requesting that the reissue be sent by direct deposit to a different, verified account instead.

To verify an account before providing it to the IRS, log into your bank's website or app and confirm the account number, routing number, and the name on the account. Make sure the name matches the name on your tax return exactly. Provide all three pieces of information to the IRS when you call.

If your refund was held or offset

Sometimes the IRS does not send a refund at all because it has been held or offset. This means the money has been applied to a debt you owe. The most common reasons are unpaid federal taxes from a prior year, unpaid student loans in default, or unpaid child support or alimony.

If Where's My Refund shows that your refund has been offset, you will see a message explaining why. The IRS will also send you a notice in the mail within 30 days. If you believe the offset was made in error — for example, if you have already paid the debt or if the debt belongs to someone else — you can file a claim with the IRS or contact the agency that reported the debt.

Contact the specific agency involved: the IRS for back taxes, the Department of Education for student loans, or your state's child support enforcement office for family support debt. They can verify whether the debt is still owed and, if it is not, request that the offset be reversed.

When to contact the IRS directly

Call the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1040 if any of the following apply: your refund is more than 21 days late for a mailed check, more than 4 business days late for direct deposit, or more than 7 days late for a debit card; Where's My Refund shows your refund was sent but you have not received it; a trace reveals your refund was rejected or returned; or you need to update your bank account information after filing.

The IRS is typically less busy from November through March. Wait times are shorter early in the morning and later in the afternoon. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount ready before you call. The IRS can issue a trace on the spot and tell you the exact status of your refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before reporting my refund missing?

Wait at least 21 days after the payment date shown in Where's My Refund if your refund was mailed by check. For direct deposit, wait 4 business days. For debit card, wait 7 days. If it has not arrived by then, contact the IRS.

Can I get my refund reissued if the check is lost in the mail?

Yes. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and request a trace. If the trace confirms the check was mailed but never delivered, the IRS will issue a replacement check, which takes 4 to 6 weeks. You can ask for direct deposit instead if you provide a verified bank account number.

What happens if I gave the IRS the wrong bank account number?

The bank that received the deposit will reject it, and it will be returned to the IRS. This takes 2 to 4 weeks. The IRS will then reissue your refund by mail or to a corrected account if you call and provide the right number. Call 800-829-1040 as soon as you realize the mistake.

Can the IRS tell me if my bank rejected my refund?

Yes. Call 800-829-1040 and ask them to trace your refund. They can see whether your bank rejected the direct deposit and why. If it was rejected, they can reissue it by mail or to a different account.

What if my refund was offset for a debt I already paid?

Contact the agency that reported the debt — the IRS for back taxes, the Department of Education for student loans, or your state's child support office for family support. They can verify the debt status and request that the offset be reversed if you have proof of payment.