Start with the IRS if your refund is late
Contact the Internal Revenue Service directly through their refund tracking system or by phone. The IRS has a tool called Where's My Refund? on their website (irs.gov) that shows the status of your return and tells you the expected deposit date. If the tool says your refund was approved and should have arrived, or if it shows no status at all after 21 days from when you filed, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return ready when you call. The IRS phone lines are busiest in the morning and during tax season (January through April), so calling in the afternoon or after April helps you reach someone faster. Wait times can still be long—sometimes 30 minutes or more—but this is the only way to get direct answers about a federal refund.
If you filed electronically, the IRS typically processes your return within 21 days. If you mailed a paper return, add an extra 4 to 6 weeks to that timeline. The Where's My Refund tool updates once per day, usually overnight, so check it the same time each day rather than repeatedly throughout the day.
Key Takeaways
- Use the IRS's Where's My Refund tool first—it tells you whether your refund was approved and when it should arrive.
- If your refund is more than 21 days late after e-filing or more than 6 weeks late after mailing, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to speak with someone.
- A missing refund is usually a bank account error, address mismatch, or identity verification hold—each has a different solution.
- State refunds are handled separately from federal refunds; contact your state tax agency if your state return is missing.
- If the IRS says your refund was sent but you never received it, file a claim with your bank or request a paper check instead.
Check your bank account and routing number first
Before calling the IRS, verify that the refund did not land in a different account. If you chose direct deposit, the IRS sends the money to the bank account and routing number you listed on your return. If you changed banks, closed the account, or made a typo when entering the account number, the refund may have been rejected by your bank and sent back to the IRS.
Log into your bank account online or call your bank's customer service line to search your transaction history for any deposit attempts from the IRS in the last 60 days. Look for deposits labeled "IRS," "USATREAS," or "USDEPT." If your bank rejected the deposit, they will have a record of the rejection and the reason. Common reasons include a closed account, incorrect routing number, or a name mismatch between your tax return and your bank account.
If your bank rejected the deposit, the IRS will eventually send you a paper check instead, but this adds 4 to 6 weeks to your wait. You can speed this up by calling the IRS and asking them to issue a paper check rather than retry the deposit.
Verify your address and identity with the IRS
The IRS sometimes holds refunds when they cannot verify your identity or when your mailing address on file does not match your tax return. This happens more often if you moved recently, if your return was flagged for review, or if the IRS suspects identity theft.
When you call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, ask specifically whether your refund is on hold for identity verification or address issues. If it is, the IRS will tell you what documents they need—usually a copy of your driver's license or passport and proof of your current address (a utility bill or lease). You can mail these documents or upload them through your IRS online account if you have one set up.
Once the IRS receives and verifies your documents, they will release your refund. This process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after they receive your documents. Ask the IRS for a reference number and the mailing address where you should send documents so you can track them.
Handle state tax refunds separately
If you are missing a state tax refund, contact your state's tax agency directly—not the IRS. Each state runs its own refund system and timeline. Most states have a refund tracking tool similar to the IRS's Where's My Refund, usually found on the state tax department's website.
Search online for "[your state] tax refund status" or "[your state] department of revenue" to find the right agency and their tracking tool. State refunds typically take 2 to 8 weeks to process, depending on the state and whether you filed electronically or by mail. If your state refund is late, call the state tax department's customer service line—the number is on their website.
Some states process refunds more slowly than others. If you filed your state return at the same time as your federal return but your state refund has not arrived, check whether your state is currently behind on processing. Many state tax agencies post updates on their websites during busy filing periods.
File a claim if the IRS says the refund was sent
If the IRS confirms that your refund was deposited to your bank account or mailed as a check, but you never received it, you have two options: file a claim with your bank or request a replacement check from the IRS.
If the refund was supposed to be direct deposited, contact your bank and report that a deposit from the IRS did not arrive. Your bank can investigate whether the deposit was rejected, lost in processing, or sent to the wrong account. Banks typically investigate missing deposits within 10 business days. If your bank confirms the deposit was lost, they will credit your account.
If the refund was mailed as a paper check and you never received it, call the IRS and ask them to issue a replacement check. The IRS will cancel the original check and mail you a new one. This takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks. Alternatively, you can file a claim with the U.S. Treasury if the check was lost in the mail—search online for "Treasury check claim" to find the form and instructions.
What to do if the IRS says your refund was never processed
If the IRS tells you that your return was never received or never processed, ask whether your return was rejected during filing. This can happen if you filed electronically and made an error on your return, or if you mailed a paper return and it was lost in the mail.
If your return was rejected, the IRS will tell you the reason. Common reasons include a missing signature, an incorrect Social Security number, or a duplicate filing (you filed twice by accident). The IRS will send you a notice by mail explaining what to fix. You then file an amended return or a corrected version of your original return.
If your return was never received at all, you will need to file it again. If you filed electronically, refile through your tax software or a tax preparer. If you mailed a paper return, file electronically this time if possible—it is faster and you will have a confirmation number. Keep a copy of your original return for your records in case questions come up later.
Understand why refunds are delayed
Tax refunds are delayed for a handful of common reasons. The most frequent are: the IRS is processing a high volume of returns (especially in March and April), your return was selected for review, your identity could not be verified, your bank rejected the direct deposit, or you made an error on your return that the IRS caught.
If your return is being reviewed, the IRS will send you a notice in the mail explaining what they are checking. Reviews can add 2 to 12 weeks to your refund timeline, depending on what the IRS is looking at. You do not need to do anything unless the notice asks you to send documents or call a specific number.
Some refunds are delayed because the IRS is offsetting your refund to pay back taxes, child support, or federal student loans you owe. If this is happening, the IRS will send you a notice explaining the offset and which agency is receiving the money. You cannot reverse an offset, but you can contact the agency collecting the debt to negotiate a payment plan if you dispute the amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before contacting the IRS about a missing refund?
Wait at least 21 days after e-filing or 6 weeks after mailing a paper return before calling. Check Where's My Refund first—if it shows no status after those timeframes, or if it shows your refund was approved but never arrived, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Can I get my refund faster if I call the IRS?
Calling the IRS cannot speed up processing, but it can tell you why your refund is delayed and what you need to do next. If there is an error on your return or a missing document, fixing it immediately can prevent further delays.
What if I filed my taxes through a tax preparer or software company?
You still contact the IRS directly about your refund status. Your tax preparer or software company cannot access IRS systems to check on your refund. However, if your preparer made an error on your return, contact them to file an amended return.
Do I need to file a police report if I think my refund was stolen?
If you believe your refund was intercepted or stolen, contact the IRS first to confirm whether they sent it. If they did send it and it disappeared, file a report with your bank and the IRS. A police report is usually not necessary unless you suspect identity theft—in that case, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov.
What if the IRS says my refund was sent but my bank says they never received it?
This usually means the IRS sent the money to an incorrect account number or routing number. Ask your bank to confirm the account and routing number on file. If they do not match your tax return, contact the IRS and ask them to issue a paper check instead of retrying the deposit.