How to check your tax return status

The IRS offers one main tool to track your return: Where's My Refund?, available on IRS.gov. You enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, and shows you one of three statuses: received, approved, or sent to your bank.

You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to speak with a representative, though wait times are often long during tax season. If you filed through a tax professional or software company, that firm may also show your status in your account dashboard — but the IRS tool is the official source.

Text updates are available if you opt in during filing. Some tax software companies (like TurboTax or H&R Block) offer their own status trackers, but these pull data from the IRS system, so they show the same information as Where's My Refund?

Key Takeaways

  • Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov is the official IRS tracker and updates once daily; you need your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount to use it.
  • A "received" status means the IRS has your return but has not yet reviewed it; "approved" means they have processed it and your refund is on the way.
  • If Where's My Refund? shows no information after five days of filing, your return may not have been received or may have an error that requires correction.
  • Refunds typically arrive within 21 days of approval, but can take longer if you chose mail delivery or if your bank processes deposits slowly.
  • If your return shows an error or is delayed beyond the expected window, you will need to contact the IRS directly or work with a tax professional to resolve it.

What each status message means

Received means the IRS has scanned your return into their system and it is in the queue to be reviewed. This is the first status you will see, usually within one to two days of filing electronically or two to three weeks if you mailed a paper return. It does not mean the IRS has checked your numbers yet — only that they have logged it.

Approved means the IRS has processed your return, verified your information, and calculated your refund. Once you see this status, your refund is scheduled to be sent. The IRS does not hold approved refunds; they move to the next step automatically.

Sent to your bank (or "sent to your address" for mailed refunds) means the IRS has transmitted the refund to your financial institution or postal service. If you chose direct deposit, the money should arrive within one to two business days after this status appears, though some banks take longer to post deposits. If you chose a paper check, allow seven to ten business days for mail delivery.

If Where's My Refund? shows no status at all after five days, your return may not have been received, or there may be an error preventing it from being processed. This is the time to check that you filed correctly and contact the IRS if needed.

Why your return might be delayed

The IRS processes returns in the order they are received, but certain returns take longer to review. Returns with errors — a mismatched name or Social Security number, missing information, or math mistakes — are pulled out of the normal queue for correction. Returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) are also held for extra verification, which can add weeks.

Identity theft flags and fraud checks also slow processing. If the IRS suspects your return may be fraudulent or if your information matches a known theft case, they will hold your return while they investigate. You will not see an update during this time, and the IRS may contact you by mail to verify your identity before releasing your refund.

Paper returns take much longer than electronic ones — typically four to six weeks instead of two to three weeks — because they must be manually scanned and entered into the system. If you filed on paper and it has been more than six weeks, contact the IRS.

Technical issues on the IRS side are rare but do happen. During peak tax season (February through April), the IRS system can experience slowdowns. If your return has been in "received" status for more than two weeks, or "approved" for more than a week with no movement, contact the IRS to check whether there is a processing issue.

What to do if your return is stuck

If Where's My Refund? shows no status after five days of filing electronically, or three weeks after mailing a paper return, the return may not have been received. Check your filing confirmation email or receipt — if you filed electronically, you should have received an acceptance confirmation within 24 hours. If you did not receive one, your return may not have been submitted successfully.

If you have a confirmation but Where's My Refund? still shows nothing, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you whether your return is in their system and, if it is, why it has not been processed yet.

If your return shows an error message in Where's My Refund? — such as "we cannot process your return" or "we need more information" — the IRS will send you a letter explaining what is wrong. Do not ignore this letter. It will include instructions on how to correct the issue, whether that means filing an amended return, providing missing documents, or verifying your identity. Follow the instructions in the letter exactly, as the IRS will not process your refund until the error is resolved.

If your return has been approved for more than two weeks and the money has not arrived, contact your bank to confirm they have received the deposit. Sometimes a bank will hold a deposit for verification, especially if the amount is large or the account is new. If your bank has not received anything, call the IRS again — the refund may have been sent to an old account number or there may have been a transmission error.

Direct deposit versus mailed checks

If you chose direct deposit, your refund moves faster. Once the IRS sends it to your bank, it typically arrives within one to two business days. However, some banks process ACH deposits (the electronic transfer method the IRS uses) more slowly, and a few hold large deposits for verification. If your refund does not appear within three business days of the "sent to your bank" status, contact your bank's customer service line.

If you chose a mailed check, the IRS prints and mails it after approval. This adds seven to ten business days for postal delivery, and longer if you live in a remote area. Mailed checks are also more likely to be lost or delayed in the mail. If your check does not arrive within two weeks of the "sent to your address" status, contact the IRS to request a replacement or to have the refund sent by direct deposit instead.

You can change your refund delivery method only before you file. Once your return is submitted, the IRS will send the refund the way you requested. If you made a mistake and want to change it, you will have to wait for the refund to arrive, then file an amended return if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Where's My Refund? update?

The tool updates once per day, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern time. Checking multiple times in one day will show the same information. If your status has not changed in more than a week, that is when to contact the IRS.

Can I track my return if I filed through a tax software company?

Yes. Tax software companies like TurboTax, H&R Block, and others show your status in your account, but they pull this information from the IRS system. Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov is always the official source and will have the most current information.

What does it mean if Where's My Refund? says "we cannot process your return"?

It means the IRS found an error or missing information that prevents them from reviewing your return. The IRS will mail you a letter explaining what is wrong and how to fix it. Open this letter when ready and follow the instructions. Your refund will not be processed until the issue is resolved.

How long should I wait before calling the IRS about a delayed return?

Wait at least two weeks after filing electronically, or four weeks after mailing a paper return. If your return shows a status but has not moved in more than a week, or if it shows no status after those timeframes, call 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount ready.

What if my refund was sent to the wrong bank account?

Contact the IRS when ready at 1-800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and the details of the account that received the deposit by mistake. The IRS can sometimes recover the refund, but the sooner you report it, the better. You may also need to contact the bank that received the deposit and ask them to return it.