EITC refund timing by tax year
EITC refund timing depends on the tax year and when you file. Here’s what’s known for the 2025 and 2026 tax years.
| Tax year | Filed In | EITC refund timing |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 | Most qualifying early direct-deposit filers were expected to receive refunds by March 2, 2026 |
| 2026 | 2027 | Exact date not yet announced; refunds that include the EITC can’t be issued before mid-February |
Source: Internal Revenue Service
What the PATH Act means for your refund
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act is a federal law that requires the IRS to hold refunds that include the EITC or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least mid-February. The rule gives the IRS more time to verify income and dependent information to help prevent fraud before releasing certain refunds.
The hold applies to your entire refund, not just the portion tied to the EITC or ACTC. Filing early can still help get your return processed sooner, but the IRS can’t release the refund before the PATH Act waiting period ends.
What happens after the hold ends
Once the PATH Act waiting period is over, your return continues through normal IRS processing. Your refund could still take longer if:
- Income or dependent information needs verification
- Your return contains missing or incorrect information
- The IRS requests identity verification
- Information on the return doesn’t match IRS records
- Your bank needs additional time to process the deposit
These delays are separate from the required EITC waiting period.
Note: Choosing direct deposit and filing an accurate electronic return can help avoid additional processing time, but neither changes the PATH Act requirement.
Checking your EITC refund status
Use Where’s My Refund?, the IRS2Go app, or your IRS Individual Online Account to follow your refund after filing.
You’ll generally need your:
- Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number
- Filing status
- Tax year you’re filing for
- Exact refund amount
Where’s My Refund? typically provides information about 24 hours after the IRS receives a current-year electronically filed return and updates once per day.
