Key Takeaways
- You can use the IRS's "Where's My Refund?" online tool to check your tax refund status by entering your name, filing status, refund amount, and Social Security number.
- If you've e-filed, wait at least three days before checking your refund status online; if you mailed a paper return, wait three weeks.
- To check your refund status, you'll need a copy of your tax return, your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount.
- Be aware of common reasons for refund delays, which can help you understand any potential issues with your refund status.
Where's my refund?
If you are anxiously awaiting your refund check to arrive or have it deposited into your checking account, there’s no reason for it to remain a mystery. The IRS has an online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” that allows you to check the status of your refund. After providing some personal information, you can find out when it will arrive.
TurboTax also has a Where's My Refund Tracking guide that explains each step of the efiling process and how to check the status of your federal tax refund.
Checking your tax refund status online
Step 1—Wait
Wait at least three days after e-filing your tax return before checking a refund status. When you e-file your tax return to the IRS, it needs approximately three days to update your information on the website.
If you e-filed your tax return using TurboTax, you can check your e-file status online, to ensure it was accepted by the IRS. You'll also receive an e-mail confirmation directly from the IRS.
However, if you mail a paper copy of your tax return, the IRS recommends that you wait three weeks before you begin checking your refund status. Most taxpayers who e-file will receive their tax refund sooner.
Step 2—Obtain a copy of your tax return
Before you sit down to check your refund status, the IRS requires that you have some of the information from your tax return. If you printed a copy of your tax return, grab it—you’ll need the following information from it:
- The Social Security number that you entered at the top of your tax return
- The filing status you chose, which you can locate in the top portion of the first page to your tax form.
- The exact amount of your tax refund. You can find this at the end of your tax return.
Step 3—Go to the "Where’s My Refund?" page on the IRS website
When you access the "Where's My Refund?" tool, you will see three separate boxes to enter your filing status, refund amount and Social Security number. When you finish entering this information, click on the "Submit" button on the page to see the status of your refund.
TurboTax Tip:
If you're without internet access, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1954 to check your refund status using the same information required for checking online.
Other ways to check your tax refund status
If you don’t have access to the Internet or a computer, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1954 to obtain the status of your refund. You will need the same three pieces of information as those who use the online tool, so be sure you have a copy of your tax return available.
TurboTax also has a Where's My Refund Tracking step-by-step guide that will show you how to find the status of your IRS or state tax refund. Use TurboTax, IRS, and state resources to track your tax refund, check return status, and learn about common delays.
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