The IRS online tool you can use to track the status of your refund is undoubtedly named after the question the agency gets pelted with most.
Aside from the tongue-in-cheek nature of its name, Where’s My Refund? is a critical tool to help taxpayers make financial decisions based on the expected arrival of money they’ll recoup from withholding or estimated taxes they paid.
In this article, we explain how to use the Where’s My Refund? tool, and present other convenient ways to find out when your much anticipated payout will show up in your bank account or mailbox.
We also discuss what you can do when filing your return that will speed your refund along.
How the “Where’s My Refund?” tool works
According to the IRS, your refund status is available online within 24 to 48 hours after you e-file your current year return.
But don’t expect it to tell you when you’ll receive your money. Yet. That will happen when your return is processed and the refund approved, usually within 21 days.
If you file a complete and accurate paper return, your refund status should appear in about 4 weeks, and your refund issued in about 6 to 8 weeks.
So to determine when you can pay those outstanding bills, take that long-awaited vacation, or replace the leaky dishwasher with your refund…
Simply access this online tool and provide the following information:
- Your Social Security number
- Tax year for which you’re seeking the refund
- Your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.)
- The exact refund amount shown on your tax return
Then click the “Submit” button. The tool displays three statuses:
- Return received
- Refund approved
- Refund sent
Tracking your refund by phone
You can also call the IRS’s toll-free number, 1-800-829-1954 (or 866-464-2050 for an amended return) and use the automated system to trace your refund’s progress.
Like the online tool, you must verify your identification with your Social Security number, tax year you’re calling about, your filing status, and the dollar amount of the refund indicated on your return.
If you believe your refund check was lost or stolen, you can also find out if it was cashed (a good reason to have your funds direct deposited).
There’s an IRS mobile app for this, too!
It’s called IRS2Go, is available for iOS, iPadOS and Android phones and tablets, and allows you to get real-time updates on refund status 24/7.
You can also use the app to make a payment, find free tax assistance, sign up for tax tips, access IRS social media channels, and more.
It’s a neat little program to get tax stuff done from virtually anywhere.
What you can do to expedite your refund
Since paper returns take much longer to process, filing yours electronically will accelerate the reunion between you and your funds.
Another way to get that money faster is to have it direct deposited into your bank account. (It’s also safer than having it sent through the mail.)
File your taxes early. It’ll avoid the April 15th avalanche of returns, get processed sooner and your refund will be on its way in no time.
Prepare your taxes carefully and accurately. If you have to correct mistakes or submit an amended return, your refund will be delayed.
Consider engaging a tax professional. They can usually do it faster, find deductions you may have overlooked, and you could benefit not only from a quicker refund, but a larger one.
The bottom line
Knowing when you’re getting your refund can be a big relief to many taxpayers and help them plan ahead.
The IRS Where’s My Refund? online tool, toll-free 1-800-829-1954 phone service, and IRS2Go mobile app can all deliver the latest updates on the whereabouts of your funds.
If you have any questions about this article, or any other tax or accounting needs, we’re always happy to help. Just click the button below to schedule a free consultation:
