You can check the status of your federal tax refund using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool available on the IRS website. To use this tool, you will need:
- Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Your filing status (e.g., single, married filing jointly)
- The exact refund amount shown on your tax return
Typically, your refund status will be available about 24 hours after you e-file your current-year return, 3-4 days after e-filing a prior-year return, or about 4 weeks after filing a paper return. The IRS updates the refund status once daily, usually overnight
. The tool will show your refund status in stages such as:
- Return Received: IRS has your return and is processing it
- Refund Approved: IRS has approved your refund and is preparing to issue it
- Refund Sent: IRS has sent your refund to your bank or by mail (it may take 5 days to appear in your bank account or several weeks if sent by check)
If your refund is delayed, it may be due to corrections or additional review. The IRS will notify you by mail if they need more information
. You can also check your refund status via the IRS2Go mobile app or by contacting the IRS directly, though online tools are faster and avoid long wait times
. In summary, to find out where your federal refund is, go to the IRS "Where's My Refund?" webpage, enter your SSN/ITIN, filing status, and refund amount, and you will see the current status of your refund
