Track the money the IRS owes you. We got your back.
Sarah Tew/CNETIt's Tax Day. Do you know where your income tax refund money is? If you filed your 2020 tax return with the IRS not long before today's deadline, you may still be waiting for your refund money. We'll walk you through how to get an update on your refund status with the IRS tracker tools. (And if you've waited till today to file your taxes, you'll want to either file your tax return or request an extension ASAP.)
The IRS is expecting some refund delays this year, and there are a few reasons why you may not have received yours yet -- for example, if the IRS is doing extra calculations because you qualify for a Recovery Rebate Credit or if you filed a paper tax return by snail mail. The online IRS tools let you know if your tax return was received, if the IRS is processing it or when your refund was mailed out or deposited electronically in your bank account.
The IRS tools can help in other ways -- if you think your third stimulus check is missing, you can track the status of your payment. Here's more information about whether you might need to file an amended tax form, if you're eligible for other COVID-related credits and benefits and how to see if the IRS has a tax refund you need to claim. If you have kids, here's how to calculate how much money you might get through child tax credits. And if you received unemployment in 2020, you could get extra money with your refund if you qualify for a tax break. This story is updated frequently.
Is the IRS taking longer to process tax returns this year?
Because of the pandemic, the IRS ran at limited capacity last year, which put a strain on its ability to process tax returns and send out stimulus checks. The IRS is now open again and processing mail, tax returns, payments, refunds and correspondence, the agency said, but the pandemic continues to cause delays in some services.
The IRS said it's issuing most refunds in less than 21 days right now but some are taking longer, including for mailed paper tax returns. The IRS said it's also taking longer than 21 days to issue refunds for some 2020 tax returns that require review, such as determining Recovery Rebate Credit amounts for the first and second stimulus checks or figuring earned income tax credit and additional child tax credit amounts.
Watch this: Your tax questions answered in 3 minutes
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How do I check the status of my refund?
To track the status of your income tax refund, you need several things on hand: Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, your filing status -- single, married or head of household -- and your refund amount in whole dollars, which you can find on your tax return. Also, make sure it's been at least 24 hours before you try tracking your refund.
Using the IRS tool Where's My Refund, enter your SSN or ITIN, your filing status and your exact refund amount, then press Submit. If you entered your information correctly, you'll be taken to a page that shows your refund status. If not, you may be asked to verify your personal tax data and try again. If all the information looks correct, you'll need to enter the date you filed your taxes, along with whether you filed electronically or on paper.
The IRS also has a mobile app, called IRS2Go, that checks your tax refund status. The IRS updates the data in this tool overnight, so if you don't see a status change after 24 hours or more, check back the following day.
When will I receive my IRS refund?
The IRS usually issues tax refunds within 21 days, and many people get their refunds much sooner. However, this year, with the IRS facing complications, some taxpayers are expected to face longer wait times to receive their payments.
If there are any errors, it might take the agency longer to process and issue your tax refund. The same goes for people who filed a claim for an earned income tax credit or the child tax credit. (Here's who qualifies for the child tax credit.)
The date you get your tax refund also depends on how you filed your return. For example, with refunds going into your bank account via direct deposit, it could take an additional five days for your bank to post it to your account. This means if it took the IRS the full 21 days to issue your check and your bank five days to post it, you may be waiting a total of 26 days to get your money.
If you submitted your tax return by mail, the IRS says it could take six to eight weeks for your tax refund to arrive. That's where tracking your refund comes in handy. Here are some possible dates when you could receive your refund if you filed or plan to file electronically.
When your tax refund could arrive, if no additional delay
| If you file or filed on this date | This is the soonest | This is the latest |
|---|---|---|
| March 1 | March 8 | March 22 |
| April 1 | April 8 | April 22 |
| April 15 | April 22 | May 6 |
| May 17 (last day to file) | May 24 | June 7 |
| Oct. 15 (last day with extension) | Oct. 22 | Nov. 5 |
What is causing delays with my refund money?
The IRS has a list of reasons your refund could potentially be delayed.
- Your tax return has errors.
- It's incomplete.
- Your refund has been affected by identity theft or fraud.
- You filed for the earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit.
- Your return needs further review.
- Your return includes Form 8379 (PDF), injured spouse allocation -- this could take 14 weeks to process.
Will the IRS respond to my tax questions by phone?
While you can technically call the IRS to check your status, the agency's live phone assistance is extremely limited right now, so you may wait on hold for a while to speak to a representative. Also, the IRS says you should only call if it's been 21 or more days since you filed your taxes online, or if the Where's My Refund tool tells you to contact the IRS.
For more information about your 2020 taxes, here's how to claim missing stimulus money on your taxes and everything to know about the third stimulus check.
How should I interpret these refund status messages?
Both the IRS tools (online and mobile app) will show you one of three messages to explain your tax return status.
- Received: The IRS now has your tax return and is working to process it.
- Approved: The IRS has processed your return and confirmed the amount of your refund, if you're owed one.
- Sent: Your refund is now on its way to your bank via direct deposit or as a paper check to your mailbox. (Here's how to change your address on file if you moved.)
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