Start with the IRS if you filed federal taxes
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is your first contact for any federal tax refund that has not arrived on time. You do not need to wait for a specific number of days—you can check the status of your refund as soon as you file, and contact them if something looks wrong.
The fastest way to reach the IRS about a delayed refund is through their Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool shows you the current status—whether the IRS is still processing, has approved it, or has sent it out. If the tool says your refund is delayed beyond the normal timeframe for your filing method, you have a concrete reason to call.
If you need to speak to a person, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are longest during tax season (January through April), but the line is open year-round. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you whether your return is stuck in processing, held for verification, or sent to the wrong address.
Key Takeaways
- Check the IRS Where's My Refund tool first—it shows real-time status and often answers the question without a phone call.
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if the tool shows a delay beyond 21 days for e-filed returns or 42 days for paper returns.
- Contact your state tax agency if you filed state taxes separately and that refund is also late.
- If the IRS says your refund was sent but you never received it, contact your bank or the U.S. Postal Service depending on your delivery method.
- Keep your tax return copy, bank statements, and any IRS correspondence—you will need these if the refund was lost or misdirected.
Contact your state tax agency for state refund delays
If you filed state income taxes and that refund is late, you need to contact your state department of revenue or state tax agency—not the IRS. Each state runs its own refund system and timeline. Some states process refunds faster than the federal government; others take longer.
Find your state's tax agency by searching "[your state] department of revenue" or "[your state] tax commission." Most states have a refund status tool similar to the IRS version. You will enter your Social Security number and refund amount to see where it stands. If the tool shows a delay, call the phone number listed on your state's website.
State processing times vary widely. Some states promise refunds within 2 to 3 weeks of approval; others take 4 to 6 weeks. Ask the state agency what the normal timeline is for your filing method, then ask whether your refund is behind that timeline. If it is, ask what the hold-up is—verification issues, address problems, and identity theft flags all cause delays at the state level.
What to do if the IRS says your refund was sent but you did not receive it
The IRS tracks refunds in three ways: direct deposit to your bank account, a check mailed to your address, or a debit card (less common). The Where's My Refund tool tells you which method was used. If the tool says "approved and sent" but the money never arrived, the next step depends on the delivery method.
For direct deposit, contact your bank first. Give them the exact date the IRS says the refund was sent. Ask whether the deposit hit your account and was reversed, or whether it never arrived at all. If your bank has no record, contact the IRS again and ask them to verify the account number on file. Mistakes in routing numbers or account numbers are common and can be corrected, but the IRS will need to resend the refund.
For a mailed check, wait at least 7 business days after the IRS says it was sent before assuming it is lost. Checks take time to arrive, especially if you moved or the address on your return was incomplete. If 7 business days have passed, contact the IRS and ask them to issue a replacement check or switch to direct deposit. They can also put a trace on the original check to see if it was cashed.
Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service if the IRS is not helping
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is a free office within the IRS that helps when normal channels are not working. You do not pay them, and they do not represent you in court—they investigate problems and push the IRS to resolve them.
Contact TAS if you have called the IRS multiple times and gotten no answer, if the IRS told you something contradictory, or if your refund is delayed so long that it is causing you financial hardship. You can reach TAS by calling 1-877-777-4778 or by visiting taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov. They will ask you to describe the problem and provide copies of your return and any IRS letters you received.
TAS typically responds within 24 to 48 hours. They cannot speed up normal processing, but they can investigate if something went wrong—a lost check, a misfiled return, or a hold placed on your account by mistake. If TAS finds an error, they can direct the IRS to fix it and resend your refund.
What information to have ready when you call
Before you contact the IRS or your state tax agency, gather these documents: your Social Security number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), the exact refund amount from your tax return, the date you filed, and whether you filed electronically or by mail. If you have already received IRS mail about your return, bring that too—it often contains a reference number that speeds up the conversation.
If you are calling about a check that never arrived, also have your current mailing address and the address where you filed from. If you are calling about a direct deposit that did not land, have your bank account number and routing number ready. The more specific you are, the faster the agency can locate your refund in their system.
Refund delays caused by identity theft or verification holds
Some refund delays happen because the IRS or your state flagged your return for verification or suspected identity theft. The IRS will send you a letter if this is the case—you do not have to guess. The letter will explain what they need from you: a copy of your ID, proof of income, or documentation of a dependent.
If you receive a verification letter, follow the instructions exactly. Do not call the IRS first; send what they ask for. Calling can actually slow things down because the IRS will tell you to mail the documents anyway. Once they receive your documents, processing usually resumes within 2 to 4 weeks.
If you suspect identity theft—someone filed a return using your Social Security number—contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490. They will walk you through filing Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) and put a flag on your account. This is separate from a normal refund delay and requires different steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before calling about a delayed refund?
The IRS says most e-filed returns are processed within 21 days and paper returns within 42 days. If you filed electronically and it has been more than 21 days, or if you filed by mail and it has been more than 42 days, you can call. The Where's My Refund tool will tell you if there is actually a delay or if processing is still on track.
Can I call the IRS on weekends or after hours?
The main IRS line (1-800-829-1040) is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in your local time zone. The Taxpayer Advocate Service line (1-877-777-4778) has similar hours. Outside these times, use the Where's My Refund tool online, which is available 24/7.
What if I filed through a tax preparation company like H&R Block or TurboTax?
Contact the IRS or your state directly—not the tax company. The company filed your return but does not control the refund process. However, if the company made an error on your return, contact them to file an amended return. For delays, go straight to the IRS or your state.
Will calling the IRS speed up my refund?
Calling will not speed up normal processing, but it can uncover problems that are actually causing the delay. If your return is stuck because of a missing document or a wrong address, calling can get that fixed. If processing is simply slow, calling will not change that.
What if the IRS says my refund was sent to the wrong address?
Ask the IRS to issue a replacement check or switch to direct deposit. If the original check was sent to an old address, contact the current resident or the post office to see if it can be recovered. The IRS can also put a stop payment on the original check and resend it to the correct address.