Federal tax refund timelines
How quickly you receive your refund depends mainly on how you filed and whether the return requires further review.
| Type of return | Typical processing time | When you can start tracking it |
|---|---|---|
| Electronically filed return | About three weeks | 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return |
| Mailed return | Six weeks or longer after IRS receipt | Four weeks after mailing |
| Amended return | Generally eight to 12 weeks; up to 16 weeks in some cases | Three weeks after filing |
Source: IRS Refunds, Where’s My Amended Return?, Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account
Direct deposit is generally the fastest way to receive an approved refund. The IRS is phasing out paper refund checks, although limited exceptions may apply.
What can delay your tax refund?
The IRS may need more time to process a return because of:
- Math errors, missing information, or an unsigned paper return
- Incorrect Social Security numbers or bank information
- Identity or return verification requirements
- Income or credit information that doesn’t match IRS records
- An injured spouse claim or amended return
- Additional review of a credit or deduction
The IRS will generally send a notice if it needs information from you. Respond using the instructions in the notice rather than filing another return.
Refunds that include the EITC or ACTC
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act prevents the IRS from issuing refunds that include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February.
The delay applies to your entire refund, not only the portion related to the credit. Filing early won’t remove the required hold, although electronically filing an accurate return and choosing direct deposit may help prevent other delays.
How to track your federal tax refund
You can track your refund through the IRS Individual Online Account, the Where’s My Refund? tool, or the IRS2Go mobile app. You’ll need:
- Your Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number
- Your filing status
- The tax year
- The exact refund amount shown on your return
The tracker shows whether your return has been received, your refund has been approved, or the refund has been sent. It generally updates once each day, so checking more often won’t provide a newer result.
How to get your tax refund faster
To keep your return on time, follow these four rules:
- E-file your return. Electronic filing is processed faster than paper, often by weeks.
- Choose direct deposit. It’s faster than waiting for a check in the mail and won’t be affected by the IRS’s paper check phaseout.
- File early. The earlier you file, the sooner the IRS can accept and process your return.
- Double-check before you submit. Errors in SSNs, income figures, or bank account numbers are the most common causes of refund delays.
