When will my refund arrive?

As the IRS is the processing agency for tax returns, it may take longer for you to receive your refund due to a multitude of reasons. Millions of filers submit their tax filings to the IRS by April 15th annually, so keep in mind that the IRS typically takes 21 days to process a return. However, delays are common.

According to the IRS, if you have not yet received your refund from your filed return, the first thing you should do is look up your refund status using the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool. Please be aware that you will need to know the following information:

If you are receiving a refund from your state, you can track your refund via their website.

If your status says that your refund has been sent to your bank, check the date. If it is fairly recent, give your bank a few days to process and deposit your refund.

The IRS also suggests verifying the account and routing numbers you set up for direct deposit. If you find that you have the wrong account number entered, please contact the IRS directly to get the account number updated.

We understand how frustrating this can be! Per the IRS, you should reach out to your bank to check on the deposit. In some cases, your bank may reject or return the payment to the IRS.

You could also wait for the IRS to recognize that the payment has been returned and update your refund status online. If this has happened, the IRS will usually try to mail you a paper refund check since the direct deposit was returned.

If you have already called the bank and they were unable to give direction, feel free to call the IRS to check on the status of your refund.

We know this can be frustrating, but you are not alone and you have options.

First, confirm that the bank information on your filed tax return is correct. If so, you can initiate a refund trace by contacting the IRS via phone to start the process.

Note: If you are married filing jointly, you will not be able to use the automated system. Per the IRS, you will need to fill out Form 3911. 

This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, financial, accounting, or other advice. Rules and regulations vary by location and are subject to change, so please consult with an expert if you need advice specific to you.

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