Check the Status of Your Tax Refund

If you are due money back on your federal or state taxes, you'll want to know when you can expect that refund check or direct deposit to arrive. If asking about a tax return filed with the United States federal government, you can check either online (www.irs.gov/refunds), via an IRS smart app (IRS2Go) or by phoning the IRS refund information hotline directly (800-829-1954). Similar services are available for gathering information about your state taxes, however each U.S. state operates a separate website[1] for handling taxes and refunds. In all cases you will need to have specific information about your tax filing handy in order to get information about the status of your refund.

Steps

Checking the Status of a Federal Tax Return Online

  1. Give the IRS time to receive and process your return. It takes time for the IRS to process your taxes. Give them adequate time before checking on the status of your refund.
    • If you e-filed your taxes, you should be able to get a refund status within 72 hours.[2]
    • If you mail your taxes, you will have to wait 3 or 4 weeks after mailing in your taxes.[2]
  2. Have the necessary information ready. When you go on the IRS website to get your tax return, the system will ask you for a variety of information. Have a copy of your federal tax return on hand so you can enter the information easily. The system will ask for the following:
    • Your Social Security Number, or your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
    • Your filing status (Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er))
    • The exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your tax return[2]
  3. Use the "Where's My Refund?" tool. When you go on irs.gov, there will be an icon that says "Where's my Refund?" When you click on this tool it will ask for the above information and give you one of the following responses:
    • An acknowledgement that your return is processing, meaning you'll have to wait a big longer to get any further information.[2]
    • The mailing or direct deposit date when your refund is scheduled to arrive.[2]
    • A notice that your address was incorrect so your refund could not be delivered. You may be able to correct this issue by updating your address through the Where's My Refund? tool or you can call the IRS and get it straightened out.[2]
  4. Customize your search if necessary. The "Where's My Refund" tool may be limited for some. If you need to customize your search, there are options.
    • Visually impaired individuals can access the site via a speech screen reader or Braille display.[2]
    • If it's more than 28 days since the IRS mailing date, there are options within the "Where's My Refund?" tool that allow you to track your refund and see where and why its delivery is delayed.[2]

Checking the Status of a Federal Tax Return over the Phone

  1. Call the toll-free number. If you do not have access to the Internet or simply prefer doing things over the phone, there is a number you can call to check on your tax refund.
    • The IRS has two toll-free numbers you can call. The first is the IRS Refund Hotline which can be reached at 800-829-1954. This number, available 24/7, is specifically for calls regarding tax refunds. If you don't have other questions regarding your taxes, try this number first.[2]
    • The TeleTax system at 800-829-4477 provides general tax information as well as your current refund status. It is also available 24/7.[3]
  2. Get your information ready. The automated system or the representative you speak to will need certain information in order to help you. Have a copy of your federal tax return on hand. You will be asked for the following:
    • Your Social Security Number, or your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
    • Your filing status (Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er))
    • The exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your tax return[3]
  3. Use a mobile phone app. You can also use your mobile phone to check the status of a tax return. Recently, the IRS released IRS2Go, a smart phone application that allows you to handle taxes online.
    • If you are an Apple user, you can download IRS2Go from the Apple App Store. If you have an Android, visit the Android Marketplace.[2]
    • You will still need to enter some basic information into your phone when using the IRS2Go app, but you may be able to preload and save information in the app to speed up the process.[2]

Checking the Status of State Tax Return

  1. Make sure your state collects a state income tax. Not every state collects a state income tax. If you live in any of the following states, your state does not collect income taxes and therefore does not provide tax refunds:
    • Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming do not have an income tax. You do not need to file a tax return in these states and you will not receive a refund.[4]
    • New Hampshire and Tennessee do collect an income tax, but only tax dividends and not wages or earnings. If your dividends do not exceed a certain amount, you will not be taxed. Visit your New Hampshire or Tennessee's tax division website for further information on whether or not you will be taxed.[4]
  2. Visit your state's tax division website. Each state has different means of providing information on tax refunds. In order to find out how to locate information in your state, you'll need to visit your state's tax division website. This can usually be found through an internet search engine. The site should provide a number you can call to talk to a representative if you have any questions.
  3. Gather the necessary information. The information you need varies by state by state. You should have a copy of your state tax return on hand, in case you need to enter the exact dollar refund amount. Be prepared to enter your social security number or individual filing status, as well as your filing status.

Tips

  • Sometimes, entering a lot of numbers can get confusing. If possible, you could have a trusted friend or family member read the numbers out loud to you while you type your information online.

Warnings

  • Entering private information into a public computer may expose you to risk of identity theft. On any computer, log out of the IRS website and close your browser after you are finished. Only access the IRS website through an ethernet cable or a password protected wi-fi network.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/State-Links-1
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 http://www.irs.gov/uac/Checking-the-Status-of-Your-Refund
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Offers-New-Toll-Free-Numbers-to-Assist-Taxpayers
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901267-which-states-don-t-collect-income-tax

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