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Tax Topics: Refund Information

Refund Timing

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in the normal time frame—less than 21 days. However, it's possible that some tax returns may require further review and could take longer.

IRS representatives can research the status of your return only in the following scenarios:

• It's been more than 21 days since you received your e-file acceptance notification.
• It's been more than six weeks since you mailed your paper return.
• The Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund? tool directs you to contact the IRS.

Here are some common issues that may extend processing times:

• Refunds from amended returns are generally issued within 16 weeks.
• If you filed an injured spouse claim, refer to Link opens in a new windowTopic No. 203 for more information.
• For refund claims with an application for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) attached, refer to Link opens in a new windowTopic No. 857 for more information.
• If you requested a refund of tax withheld on a Link opens in a new windowForm 1042-S (PDF) by filing a Link opens in a new windowForm 1040NR (PDF), allow up to six months from the original due date of the 1040NR return or the date you filed the 1040NR, whichever is later, to receive any refund due.
• By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).
• You can also refer to Link opens in a new windowTopic No. 303 for a checklist of common errors made when preparing your tax return and for additional items that may delay the processing of your return.

Refund Type

Join the 8 in 10 taxpayers who get their refunds faster by using e-file and direct deposit. You have several options for receiving your federal individual income tax refund:

• Direct Deposit—The fastest way is by direct deposit into your checking or savings account, including an individual retirement arrangement (IRA). See the Link opens in a new windowForm 1040 General Instructions (PDF) for more information. In an effort to combat fraud and identity theft, the IRS limits the number of direct deposits into a single financial account or prepaid debit card to three refunds per year. Taxpayers who exceed this limit will receive a notice and a refund check instead, which may take up to 10 weeks.
• TreasuryDirect®—Deposit into a TreasuryDirect® online account to buy U.S. Treasury marketable securities and savings bonds. For more information, see Link opens in a new windowUsing Your Tax Refund for TreasuryDirect.
• Traditional, Roth, or Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Arrangement (SEP-IRA)—Directly deposit part or all of your refund into a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or SEP-IRA but not a SIMPLE IRA. You must have an existing IRA before you file your return, as well as your routing and account numbers.
• Savings Bonds—You can get a deposit of your refund by purchase of Link opens in a new windowU.S. Series I savings bonds up to $5,000.
• A Health Savings Account (HSA)—Get your refund deposited into an HSA.
• An Archer MSA—Get your refund deposited into an Archer MSA.
• A Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA)—Get your refund deposited into a Coverdell ESA.
• Paper Check—Get your refund by paper check sent to the address listed on your return.

Splitting Your Refund

If you choose to receive your refund by direct deposit, you can split your refund into as many as three separate accounts. For example, you can request that the IRS directly deposit into a checking, a savings, and a retirement account by completing Link opens in a new windowForm 8888, Allocation of Refund (Including Savings Bond Purchases) (PDF) and attaching it to your income tax return. You can also use Form 8888 to buy up to $5,000 in paper or electronic Series I savings bonds. You can't have your refund deposited into more than one account or buy paper Series I savings bonds if you file Link opens in a new windowForm 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation (PDF). As a reminder, your refund should only be directly deposited into accounts that are in your own name, your spouse's name, or both if it's a joint account. Your refund should not be directly deposited into an account in your return preparer's name. Please note, to receive your refund by direct deposit (whether into one account or more), the total refund amount must be $1.00 or more.

Online or Mobile Device

Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund? has the most up-to-date information available about your refund. Use it to get your personalized refund status. The tool is updated once a day, so you don't need to check more often. You can also download IRS's free mobile app, IRS2Go, from an iPhone or Android device to check (Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp).

Checking Your Refund Status

You can start checking on the status of your refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received your e-filed return or four weeks after you've mailed a paper return. Have your 2018 tax return handy so you can provide your taxpayer identification number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund shown on your return.

General Information

Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund? shows information for the most recent tax year filed in the current year. For U.S. individual income tax returns filed on or after July 1, refund information will remain available throughout the following year until you file a tax return for a more current tax year. If a more recent tax year has been processed, you won't be able to see information about a previous tax year on Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund?

The Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund? tool includes a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved, and (3) Refund Sent. The tool provides a personalized refund date as soon as the IRS processes your tax return and approves your refund. It doesn't show information about amended returns.

Link opens in a new windowWhere's My Refund? has the most accurate and complete information available. IRS representatives don't have information beyond what's shown on the tool, so you don't need to call the IRS unless the tool tells you to call. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day—usually at night.

Telephone Access

If you don't have internet access, you may call the refund hotline at 800-829-1954, or call 866-464-2050 if checking on your amended return refund.

Not Entitled to Refund Received

If you receive a refund to which you're not entitled, or for an amount that's more than you expected, don't cash the check until you receive a notice that explains the difference; then follow the instructions on the notice. For a direct deposit that was greater than expected, review the notice to determine if the difference was correct, and follow the instructions on the notice. For information about returning an erroneous refund, see Link opens in a new windowTopic No. 161.

Refund Less than Expected

If you receive a refund for a smaller amount than you expected, you may cash the check. If it's determined that you should have received more, you will later receive a check for the difference. You'll also get a notice explaining the difference. Follow the instructions on the notice.

Missing Refund Check

If your refund check is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the IRS will initiate a refund trace to determine the status of the refund. See Link opens in a new windowI lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?