Where to check your refund status

The IRS provides one official tool to check your refund: Where's My Refund? at irs.gov. This tool shows the status of your federal return and tells you when the IRS expects to deposit or mail your refund. You do not need to create an account or log in — you only need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return.

You can also check your refund status through the IRS2Go mobile app, which is the same tool in app form. Both the website and app update once per day, usually overnight. Checking multiple times in the same day will not show you new information.

State tax refunds are tracked separately through your state's tax agency website, not through the IRS. Each state maintains its own refund tracker with its own web address and requirements.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov is the only official place to check your federal refund status, and it requires your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount.
  • The tool updates once per day and shows you the expected deposit or mail date, not a real-time processing status.
  • You cannot check your refund status until the IRS has received and begun processing your return, which takes at least 24 hours after e-filing or up to several weeks after mailing a paper return.
  • State refunds are tracked through your state's tax agency website, not the IRS, and each state has its own timeline and tracker.
  • If the tool says your refund was deposited but you have not received it, contact your bank or the IRS, depending on how long ago the deposit date was.

What information you need to check your status

Gather these three pieces of information before you go to Where's My Refund: your Social Security number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household), and the exact refund amount shown on your tax return. The refund amount must match exactly — if you entered $1,247 on your return and you type $1,248, the tool will not find your return.

If you do not know your refund amount, look at the copy of your return you kept, the confirmation email from your tax software, or the IRS notice the IRS mailed you. If you filed through a tax professional, call their office and ask them to provide the amount.

Do not use your PIN, password, or any other credential. Where's My Refund does not require login information of any kind.

When you can start checking

If you e-filed your return, you can check the status 24 hours after you submitted it. The IRS must receive the return first, and e-filed returns are received within 24 hours in nearly all cases. If you mailed a paper return, you cannot check the status until the IRS has physically received and scanned it, which typically takes three to four weeks.

Before the IRS has received your return, Where's My Refund will tell you that it cannot find your return. This does not mean something is wrong — it means the return has not arrived yet. Keep checking every few days if you mailed your return.

If you filed an amended return (Form 1040-X), the status tool does not track amended returns. The IRS processes amended returns separately and will mail you a notice when processing is complete.

What the status messages mean

Where's My Refund shows three main statuses. Return Received means the IRS has your return and is processing it — this is the first status you will see. Refund Approved means the IRS has finished reviewing your return and approved your refund amount. Refund Sent means the IRS has sent your refund to your bank (if you chose direct deposit) or mailed a check to you.

When your status shows Refund Sent, the tool displays the date the IRS sent the refund. For direct deposit, the money usually arrives within one to two business days of that date, though some banks take longer. For a mailed check, allow up to two weeks from the sent date to arrive, depending on mail speed in your area.

If your status has not changed in more than 21 days, or if the tool says there is a problem with your return, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit an IRS Taxpayer information Center in person.

Checking your state refund status

State tax refunds are processed by your state's tax agency, not the IRS, and each state has its own refund tracker. Search online for "[your state] tax refund status" to find your state's tool. Most state trackers require your Social Security number and refund amount, similar to the federal tool.

State refunds typically take longer than federal refunds. Many states take four to six weeks to process a return, and some take longer during tax season. If you filed both federal and state returns, your state refund may arrive weeks after your federal refund.

If your state return was filed as part of a combined federal-state package through tax software, the state return is still processed separately by your state. The federal status and state status will not match.

What to do if your refund is late

If the Where's My Refund tool shows your refund was sent but you have not received it after the expected arrival date, first check with your bank. Call the customer service number on the back of your debit card or bank statement and ask if the deposit arrived. Sometimes a deposit posts under a different name or account than you expected, or your bank may have flagged it as suspicious and held it.

If your bank confirms the deposit never arrived, or if your status still shows Return Received or Refund Approved after 21 days, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount ready. The IRS can tell you whether the refund was sent and, if it was, help you trace it.

If you filed a paper return and the tool still cannot find your return after four weeks, the return may not have arrived. Contact the IRS to confirm receipt before resubmitting.

Common reasons the tool cannot find your return

If Where's My Refund says it cannot find your return, the most common reason is that the IRS has not received it yet. If you e-filed, wait 24 hours. If you mailed it, wait three to four weeks. Checking before the return arrives will always show no results.

The second most common reason is that you entered the wrong refund amount. The amount must match your return exactly, including cents. If you are not sure of the amount, check your return copy or confirmation email and try again.

Less commonly, the tool cannot find your return because the IRS found an error and is holding the return for review. In this case, the IRS will mail you a notice explaining the issue. If you have not received a notice and the tool still cannot find your return after 21 days, call the IRS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status if someone else filed my return?

Yes. You need your own Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount. The tool does not verify who filed the return — only that the information matches what the IRS has on file. If you do not know the refund amount, contact the person who filed your return or the tax professional who prepared it.

Why does the tool say my refund amount is different from what I expected?

The IRS may have adjusted your refund during processing. Common reasons include math errors on your return, missing or incorrect information, or IRS offsets (the IRS withheld part of your refund to pay back taxes, student loans, or child support). If the tool shows a different amount, the IRS will mail you a notice explaining the change.

How long does it take to get a refund after the status shows Refund Sent?

For direct deposit, one to two business days is typical, though some banks take longer. For a mailed check, allow up to two weeks depending on mail speed. If more than two weeks have passed and you have not received a mailed check, contact the IRS.

Can I check my refund status on my tax software account?

Some tax software platforms show refund status in your account, but this information comes from the IRS and is not updated more frequently than Where's My Refund. The official IRS tool is the most direct source and updates at the same time as any other tracker.

What if I filed my return but did not choose direct deposit?

The IRS will mail you a check. Where's My Refund will show the date the check was mailed, and you should receive it within two weeks. If you have not received it after two weeks, contact the IRS and they can issue a replacement check.