The IRS is your first contact for federal tax refunds
If you filed a federal tax return and are waiting for a refund, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the agency that processes it and sends it to you. You do not contact your employer, your bank, or a tax preparation company — they do not hold your refund. The IRS does.
The IRS has three main ways to reach them about your refund status: the IRS website (irs.gov), the phone line, or the mail. Which one you use depends on how quickly you need an answer and what information you have on hand.
Your refund is either on its way to you, delayed for a reason the IRS can tell you about, or held up because the IRS needs more information from you. Knowing which one applies to your situation determines what you do next.
Key Takeaways
- Check your refund status first using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on irs.gov, which shows the current status and expected delivery date without waiting on hold.
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if the tool shows a problem or if you need to speak to someone, but wait times can be several hours during tax season.
- State tax refunds are handled by your state's tax agency, not the IRS, so contact your state revenue or taxation department separately.
- If the IRS says they need more information from you, they will have mailed you a letter explaining what documents to send and where to send them.
- Do not contact the tax preparation company or your employer about your refund — they cannot change its status or speed it up.
Check your refund status online before calling
The fastest way to find out where your federal refund is: go to irs.gov, find the "Where's My Refund?" tool, and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day and shows you the current status in real time.
The tool will tell you one of three things: your refund is being processed and will arrive by a certain date; your refund has been sent and shows the delivery method (direct deposit or check); or there is a problem and the IRS needs more information from you. If it says your refund is on the way, you are done — you do not need to call.
The tool works for returns filed electronically (which most people do) and for paper returns, though paper returns take longer to process. If you filed by mail, allow extra time before checking — the IRS needs to receive and scan your return before it appears in the system.
Call the IRS if the tool shows a delay or problem
If "Where's My Refund?" shows a delay, says the IRS needs information from you, or does not show your return at all, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready before you call.
Wait times are longest during tax season (January through May). If you call during those months, expect to wait 30 minutes to several hours. Calling early in the morning or late in the week sometimes means shorter waits. The IRS also has a callback option — you can request a call back instead of waiting on hold, and they will call you within 24 hours during business days.
When you reach an IRS representative, they can see exactly what is happening with your refund. If the IRS is waiting for information from you, they will explain what documents you need to send and where to mail them. If there is a delay in processing, they can tell you why and when you should expect the refund.
Mail a response if the IRS sent you a letter
If your refund is delayed because the IRS needs more information, they will send you a letter in the mail. This letter will explain what they need (usually a copy of a document from your return, proof of identity, or clarification about income or deductions) and where to send it.
Do not ignore this letter. The IRS will not release your refund until they receive what they asked for. Follow the instructions in the letter exactly — use the address they provide, include the documents they list, and send it by mail. Do not try to email or fax documents unless the letter specifically says you can.
Keep a copy of everything you mail and consider sending it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof the IRS received it. Processing time after the IRS receives your response is usually two to four weeks, though it can be longer during busy periods.
Contact your state tax agency for state refunds
If you are waiting for a state income tax refund, you need to contact your state's tax agency, not the IRS. Each state has its own tax department with its own refund processing system. The name varies by state — it might be called the Department of Revenue, Department of Taxation, or State Tax Commission.
Most states have an online tool similar to the IRS tool where you can check your state refund status. Search "[your state] tax refund status" to find it. If the tool does not show your refund or shows a delay, look for the phone number on the same website and call your state tax agency directly.
State refunds sometimes arrive before or after your federal refund, depending on when you filed and how busy the state's processing center is. If you filed both federal and state returns at the same time, do not assume they will arrive together.
What to do if your refund is very late
If "Where's My Refund?" says your refund should have arrived but you have not received it, the next step depends on how it was sent. If the IRS sent it by direct deposit, check with your bank to see if it arrived in your account but you missed the notification. If the IRS sent it by check, wait a few more days — mail can be slow.
If more than a week has passed since the expected delivery date and you still have not received a check, or if the IRS says the direct deposit was sent but your bank has no record of it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 again. They can investigate whether the payment was actually sent and, if it was, issue a replacement check or re-send the direct deposit.
The IRS can also tell you if your refund was sent to the wrong address or bank account. This sometimes happens if your address changed after you filed or if you entered your bank information incorrectly on your return. If that is the case, the IRS can issue a replacement refund to the correct address or account.
Do not contact tax preparation companies or employers about your refund
If you used a tax preparation company like H&R Block, TurboTax, or a local tax preparer, they do not process your refund and cannot tell you where it is. They prepared your return and sent it to the IRS, but they have no access to refund status after that. Calling them will not speed up your refund or get you answers.
The same is true for your employer. Your employer withheld taxes from your paychecks, but they do not control your refund. The IRS does. Your employer cannot change the refund amount or delivery date.
If you believe there is an error on your return — for example, your employer reported the wrong amount of income — you can contact your employer to verify the information, but you still need to contact the IRS to fix the return itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to get a federal tax refund?
The IRS says most refunds arrive within 21 days of accepting your return if you filed electronically and chose direct deposit. Paper returns take longer — usually six to eight weeks. The "Where's My Refund?" tool will show you the specific date the IRS expects your refund to arrive.
What if I filed my return but it does not show up in "Where's My Refund?"
If you filed electronically, your return should appear in the tool within 24 hours. If you filed by mail, allow two to three weeks for the IRS to receive and scan it before it shows up. If it has been longer than that and your return still does not appear, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm they received it.
Can I get my refund faster if I pay a fee?
No. The IRS does not offer expedited refunds for any price. The timeline is the same for everyone. Some tax preparation companies offer "refund advance" loans, but those are loans you have to repay — they are not your actual refund, and they come with interest and fees.
What if the IRS says my refund was sent but I never received it?
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and tell them the refund did not arrive. They can check whether it was actually sent, and if it was, they can issue a replacement check or re-send the direct deposit to your bank. Bring the expected delivery date from "Where's My Refund?" when you call.
Do I need to do anything if my refund status says "approved"?
No. "Approved" means the IRS has processed your return and your refund is on the way. You do not need to contact anyone or take any action. The refund will arrive by the date shown in the tool.