If you’ve filed your federal income taxes and are expecting a refund, you’re probably eager to find out when you’ll receive it. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides an online tool called “Where’s My Refund?” that allows taxpayers to check the status of their tax refund. This article will delve into the schedule of when the IRS updates refund status and how you can use the tool to check your refund status.
1. Understanding the IRS Refund Timeline
While individual experiences may vary, the IRS typically follows this timeline:
- Electronic Filers: If you filed your tax return electronically (e-filed), the IRS would likely issue your tax refund within 21 days.
- Paper Filers: If you filed a paper return, the refund process could take up to six weeks or more.
2. IRS Refund Status Update Schedule
The IRS updates the “Where’s My Refund?” system once every 24 hours, usually overnight. Therefore, checking the tool multiple times in one day is unlikely to yield different results.
Here’s a general guide of when updates might occur:
- Return Received: Once the IRS has received your tax return and confirmed that it’s been processed, the “Where’s My Refund?” tool will display the status “Return Received.”
- Refund Approved: This status will show up once the IRS has finished processing your return and has approved your refund. At this stage, they will provide a date for when you should expect to receive your refund.
- Refund Sent: This status indicates that the IRS has sent your refund to your bank or has mailed a check if you don’t have direct deposit set up.
3. How to Use “Where’s My Refund?”
To use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, you’ll need several pieces of information:
- Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- Your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.)
- The exact amount of your refund
Once you have these, you can check your refund status on the IRS website or through the IRS2Go mobile app.
4. What to Do If You Don’t See a Status
In some cases, your refund status might not be available right away. The IRS suggests waiting at least 24 hours after e-filing or six weeks after paper filing to check the status. If you filed your return more than three weeks ago and still can’t see a status, it might be a good idea to contact the IRS.
Conclusion
Understanding when and how the IRS updates refund status can help ease the waiting game for your tax refund. Remember, the IRS updates the “Where’s My Refund?” tool once every 24 hours, and it’s easy to check your status online or via the IRS2Go app.
Please refer to the official IRS guidelines and procedures for the most current information.
