Track Your Refund: How to Check the Status in 2025
Learn about which tools can help you track your federal and state refunds, typical processing times, and common reasons your refund might get delayed.
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The days can seem to drag on when you're waiting for your tax refund to arrive, and watching the clock doesn't necessarily help. However, it's understandable to want to stay on top of your tax return's status, and there are several ways to do so.
A good place to start is the "Where's My Refund?" page offered by the IRS. You can track your refund there using some basic information from your tax return. If you e-filed your return, you can expect your refund faster than those who filed on paper.
5.0
NerdWallet rating- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
How do I check my tax return status?
The IRS typically accepts tax returns within 24 hours of e-filing. Once the agency accepts your return, you can begin to track your refund — but keep in mind that refund processing and delivery can take up to three weeks after acceptance.
If you e-filed using tax software, your provider should email you a confirmation once your tax return has been accepted by the IRS and/or your state tax department. You can usually also track your return's e-filing acceptance status by logging into the tax software program directly. There you will also be able to access your expected refund amount, which you'll need to jot down if you plan to use the "Where's My Refund?" tool.
IRS acceptance time:
E-filed returns: 24 to 48 hours.
Paper returns: four weeks.
Estimated refund time:
E-filed returns: 21 days.
Paper returns: four-plus weeks.
How to track your refund with ‘Where's My Refund?’
The IRS "Where's My Refund?" tracker is the fastest way to check your federal tax refund status. The agency updates the tracker once per day, usually overnight. You can start checking your tax refund status 24 hours after e-filing your return and four weeks after mailing a paper return.
To check on the status of your refund, you'll need to have three items prepared: your Social Security number (or individual taxpayer identification number), filing status and the amount of money due back to you as a refund.
The tracker will display where your return is in the process — return acceptance, refund approval, or refund sent. If there is a delay or an issue with your return, the tracker may ask you to provide more information or contact the IRS.
Click on the button below to go to the IRS' refund tracker for federal tax refunds. You can also check the status of your refund on your smartphone by downloading the IRS' mobile app, IRS2go, or by calling the agency's automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954.
Nerdy Tip: If you submitted a 2022 or 2023 tax return, you can typically see your refund status on the “Where’s My Refund?” tool three to four days after e-filing. If you need to check the status of your amended return, there's a different tracker for that.
Tax refund schedule 2025
The IRS does not have an official tax refund calendar or schedule, but it does provide basic guidelines for when you might expect your refund.
Taxpayers who e-file an error-free 2024 tax return can expect their refund within 21 days, per the IRS. Paper returns submitted by mail may require more processing time, which can delay refunds by four or more weeks.
Filing method | Refund method | When to expect your refund |
|---|---|---|
E-file | Direct deposit | Within 21 days |
E-file | Check | Within 21 days, plus about one week for check delivery |
Direct deposit | In about four weeks | |
Check | In about four weeks, plus about one week for check delivery |
Estimate your tax refund date
Use the tax refund estimator below to get a general idea of when you might expect your refund. Again, keep in mind that the IRS deposit dates will vary based on how and when you file your taxes. The estimator assumes that direct deposits may take up to five days to process and that the U.S. Postal Service may take up to seven days to send a paper check.
Track your state refund status
If you're wondering where your state tax refund is, you'll be relieved to know that most states have their own refund trackers. Find your state in the list below to go right to its tax refund tracker.
Track my state refund
Note: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don't collect income tax, so they're not listed here. In New Hampshire, regular income is generally not subject to state tax, but a flat tax rate applies to dividends and interest income.
5.0
NerdWallet rating- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Why haven't I received my tax refund?
There are a few reasons why your federal refund may be delayed. One of the most common culprits is submitting a return that contains an error, such as the wrong Social Security number or incorrect direct deposit information. The IRS could also be holding up your refund if it requires additional review or is incomplete.
If you claimed the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit, the IRS can not legally issue your tax refund before mid-February. In 2025, early EITC and ACTC filers with error-free returns who chose direct deposit as their refund method should have received their refunds around March 3.
If you find yourself still waiting on your refund three weeks after e-filing or six weeks after mailing your return with no updates made to either the “Where's My Refund?” tracker or your online IRS account, you can try to call the agency's main hotline for more information.
How to get a tax refund sooner
Here are four things that can help keep your refund worries under control.
1. Avoid filing your tax return on paper
You can save yourself from weeks of wondering where your refund is by avoiding paper. If you file electronically, those returns are processed in about three weeks. State tax authorities also accept electronic tax returns, which means you may be able to get your state tax refund sooner, too.
2. Get direct deposit
When you file your return, tell the IRS to deposit your refund directly into your bank account instead of sending a paper check. That cuts the time spent waiting for the mail and checking your refund status. You can even have the IRS split your refund across your retirement, health savings, college savings or other accounts.
3. Stay on top of things
If you file using tax software or a tax pro, you can start tracking your IRS refund status 24 hours after the IRS receives your return. If you haven't received your tax refund after at least three weeks of filing online or six weeks of mailing your paper return, you can go to a local IRS office or call the agency's main number.
Taking these steps won’t fast-track your refund, according to the agency, but you may be able to get more information about what's holding up your refund or return. Also keep in mind that a delay could be related to an error the IRS is correcting on your return.
4. One more thing to know about your tax refund
It's actually something you might want to avoid. It may seem great to get a big check from the government, but a tax refund tells you that you've been overpaying your taxes and living on less of your paycheck throughout the year.
For example, if you got a $3,000 tax refund, you've been giving up $250 per month all year. Could having an extra $250 every month have helped with the bills? If you want to get that money now rather than later, you can adjust your withholding by giving your employer a new IRS Form W-4.
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