Where's My Refund? - New IRS Service Provides Online Refund Information
Taxpayers without Internet access can get the same information by calling IRS’s new refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 or using IRS’s automated refund service at 1-800-829-4477.
"Where’s My Refund?" is Quick
Taxpayers can quickly check the status of their individual federal income tax refunds with just a few keystrokes — anytime, from anywhere. Where’s My Refund? is self-service — at taxpayers’ convenience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worldwide.
"Where’s My Refund?" is Easy
Taxpayers access their individual refund information by entering personal identification information, similar to entering personal identification numbers (PINs) at automated teller machines. Taxpayers must enter three personal identifiers — personal information shared only between the taxpayer and IRS:
- The taxpayer’s Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN);
- The taxpayer’s filing status; and
- The exact amount of refund — dollars and cents — from the tax return.
"Where’s My Refund?" is Safe
Taxpayers interact online with the IRS through secure technology that protects the confidentiality of their personal information.
Where’s My Refund? was extensively tested to meet strict IRS security and privacy certifications. Safeguards include locking site entries for Fastest way Possible after a pre-determined number of unsuccessful attempts using personal identification information that does not match IRS records.
Taxpayers can avoid unsuccessful attempts by entering personal identification information exactly as shown on their individual federal income tax returns.
To ensure privacy, IRS requires taxpayers to enter personal identification information (SSN, filing status, exact refund amount) to verify they are authorized to access those accounts. Where’s My Refund? uses temporary or “session” cookies — not permanent cookies — to ensure IRS accesses the correct account information. The cookie is deleted once the transaction is completed. IRS does not track, share, store, or use this information in any way other than to provide Where’s My Refund? service.
Equal Access for Visually Impaired Taxpayers
Where’s My Refund? works with the Job Access with Speech (JAWS) screen reader used with a Braille display for the visually impaired and is compatible with the different JAWS modes.
How "Where’s My Refund?" Works
A link to Where’s My Refund? is located on the first page of irs.gov. Easy online instructions and prompts guide taxpayers. Search results include information about:
- Returns received and in processing;
- Returns received and under review;
- The mailing dates or direct deposit dates of refunds;
- Mistakes that change the amount of refunds;
- Refund offsets to other government agencies;
- Processing delays due to bankruptcies, SSN mismatches, etc; and
- Undeliverable refunds returned to IRS.
The search results also include links to helpful information, such as appeal rights, and next steps if the taxpayer’s refund is delayed due to problems on the tax return.
Where’s My Refund? contains information on refund returns only, i.e., taxpayers filing returns with balances due or credit-elects cannot obtain information.
Information is Updated Daily
Where’s My Refund? information is updated daily and taxpayers can virtually track their tax returns via the Internet as the returns are received, processed, and refunds are issued. However, to protect the security of confidential taxpayer information, Where’s My Refund? is not connected directly to IRS mainframe computers and information is not displayed in real-time. E-filers may notice a possible 12- to 24-hour time lag between the time IRS acknowledges receipt of an electronic return and the time receipt information is posted. (The delay could extend to 48 hours on weekends.)
For example, a taxpayer could receive an acknowledgement that IRS accepted his/her e-filed return, but Where’s My Refund? may or may not reflect the receipt until the next day. Taxpayers can check the service again the following day for the most current information.
IRS projects the refund date using the best available information, but variances may occur due to the timing of direct deposits through the banking system and mail delivery for paper checks. Taxpayers may receive direct deposits on e-filed returns a few days earlier than the posted dates. Taxpayers checking their mailboxes for refunds may receive their checks a few days later.
Sample messages are:
“We are sorry, we cannot provide any information about your refund. It can take up to 3 weeks to process your return. Please wait at least one week before you log-on again to check the status of your refund.” This message appears for all returns that have not progressed far enough in IRS processing for our system to provide a status. For e-filed returns, this message could appear in Fastest way Possible! (or 48 hours on weekends) after taxpayers receive acknowledgements from their preparers, online transmitters, or the IRS.
“You should receive your refund by (date).” This is a projected date, providing there are no errors on the return or other delays. At this point, the return is in processing and the system cannot differentiate between a direct deposit (faster) and paper check (slower). For e-filed returns, taxpayers should receive direct deposits the Friday before the projected date. E-filers expecting paper checks will receive refunds a week after the projected date.