Check your federal refund on IRS.gov using Where's My Refund

The IRS Where's My Refund tool is the official way to track a federal tax refund. Go to irs.gov, find the "Where's My Refund" link on the homepage, and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight.

You'll see one of three statuses: "Return Received" (the IRS has your return but hasn't processed it yet), "Approved" (your refund has been approved and is on its way), or "Sent" (the refund has been issued). If you see "Sent," the tool will tell you the date it was sent and the delivery method — direct deposit or check.

The tool works for returns filed in the current year and the prior year. If you filed more than two years ago, you won't find your refund there; contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 instead.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov is the only official source for federal refund status and updates once per day.
  • You need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount to check your status.
  • The tool shows whether your return is received, approved, or sent, and tells you the delivery date and method.
  • If your refund shows as sent but you haven't received it, wait the full timeline before contacting the IRS — direct deposits take one to five business days, checks take two to three weeks.
  • State tax refunds are tracked through your state's tax agency website, not the IRS.

What each refund status means and how long to wait

"Return Received" means the IRS has scanned your return into their system but hasn't started processing it. This status typically appears within 24 hours of e-filing or within two weeks of mailing a paper return. You may see this status for several weeks, especially during tax season (January through April) when the IRS processes millions of returns.

"Approved" means the IRS has reviewed your return, found no issues, and authorized your refund. The refund is now in the payment queue. This status usually appears one to two weeks before the money actually reaches your account.

"Sent" is the final status. It tells you the exact date your refund was issued and whether it was sent by direct deposit or check. If direct deposit was your method, the money should arrive within one to five business days from the sent date. If a check was mailed, allow two to three weeks from the sent date.

How to track a refund sent by check

If your refund was sent by check, the Where's My Refund tool will show the date it was mailed. From that date, allow two to three weeks for delivery through the mail. Checks sometimes take longer if your address is hard to reach or if mail is slow in your area.

If more than three weeks have passed since the sent date and you haven't received the check, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can confirm the check was mailed and, if necessary, issue a replacement check or deposit the refund directly to your bank account instead.

Do not cash or deposit a replacement check if you later find the original. Contact the IRS immediately if this happens — depositing both is fraud and will cause problems with your account.

How to track a refund sent by direct deposit

Direct deposit is faster than a check. Once Where's My Refund shows "Sent," the money should land in your bank account within one to five business days. Business days are Monday through Friday and do not include federal holidays.

If five business days have passed and the money hasn't arrived, log into your bank account and check whether a deposit is pending. Some banks show pending deposits before they clear. If you see a pending deposit, wait for it to clear — this usually happens within one business day.

If no deposit appears and five business days have definitely passed, call your bank first to confirm they received the transfer. If your bank says they didn't receive anything, then call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS can verify the refund was sent and investigate why it didn't arrive. They may reissue the refund by check or direct deposit to a different account.

Checking a state tax refund

State tax refunds are tracked through your state's tax agency, not the IRS. Each state has its own refund tracking tool on its tax department website. Search "[your state] tax refund status" to find the right link.

Most state tools work the same way as the federal one: you enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount. Some states also let you track by the last four digits of your Social Security number or your driver's license number instead.

State refunds typically take longer than federal refunds because states process returns after the IRS does. If you filed both federal and state returns together, expect your state refund to arrive one to three weeks after your federal refund.

What to do if Where's My Refund shows an error or won't load

If the tool says "We cannot provide information about your refund status," the most common reason is that you entered the wrong information. Double-check your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount. Even a one-dollar difference will cause the tool to reject your search.

If you're certain your information is correct and the tool still won't load, try again later. The tool sometimes goes offline for maintenance, usually at night. If it's still not working after 24 hours, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

If Where's My Refund shows a status that seems wrong — for example, "Sent" but you received the money weeks ago — the tool may simply be slow to update. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your refund. You don't need to contact the IRS unless the status hasn't changed in more than 21 days.

When to contact the IRS about a missing refund

Contact the IRS if your refund is more than 21 days late. Before you call, make sure you've waited the full timeline: one to five business days for direct deposit from the sent date, or two to three weeks for a check. If you're still within that window, waiting is the right move.

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 refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you whether the refund was actually sent and, if it was, help you figure out where it went. If the refund was never sent, they can investigate why and reissue it.

If you believe your return was lost in the mail or your direct deposit went to the wrong account, the IRS may issue a replacement refund by check or direct deposit to a corrected account. This process usually takes two to four weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status on my phone?

Yes. The IRS Where's My Refund tool works on mobile browsers. Go to irs.gov on your phone's web browser and find the Where's My Refund link. You can also download the IRS2Go mobile app from your phone's app store, which includes the refund tracker.

Why does Where's My Refund say my refund was sent but I haven't received it?

Direct deposits take one to five business days to clear after being sent. Checks take two to three weeks. If you're within that window, the refund is still on its way. If you're past that timeline, contact your bank (for direct deposit) or the IRS (for a check) to investigate.

What if I filed my return but Where's My Refund won't find it?

The tool may not show your return for up to two weeks after you file, especially if you mailed a paper return. If more than two weeks have passed, double-check that you entered your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount exactly as they appear on your return. If the information is correct and the tool still won't find it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Can I check my state refund on the IRS website?

No. State refunds are tracked on your state's tax agency website, not on irs.gov. Search "[your state] tax refund status" to find your state's tracking tool.

How often does Where's My Refund update?

The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking multiple times in the same day won't show new information. If your status hasn't changed in more than 21 days, contact the IRS.