If it's been more than four weeks since you submitted your tax return to the IRS, it's time to start tracking down where your refund money is. Tax refunds generally arrive within 28 days -- if no errors are found -- for those who file electronically and set up direct deposit.
When is the IRS deadline to claim an undelivered tax refund?
The IRS is required to keep the filing open and hold on to unclaimed income tax refunds for three years. If you don't file for the tax refund after three years, the money becomes property of the US Treasury, and you won't be able to get it back.
How can I find out if the IRS has an unclaimed tax refund for me?
You can start checking on the status of your refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received your e-filed return or 4 weeks after you mail a paper return. Visit the IRS's "Where's My Refund?" Tool which will give you a personalized refund date after the IRS processes your return and approves your refund.
The tracker displays progress through three stages:
- Return Received
- Refund Approved
- Refund Sent
To use Where's My Refund, you need to provide your Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
How Quickly Will I Get My Refund?
The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, it's possible your tax return may require additional review and take longer. The Where's My Refund? Tool has the most up to date information available about your refund.
It's been longer than 21 days since the IRS received my return and I haven't gotten my refund. Why?
Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return:
- Includes errors, such as incorrect Recovery Rebate Credit
- Is incomplete
- Needs further review in general
- Is affected by identity theft or fraud
- Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit. See Q&A below.
- Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
What information does Where's My Refund? IRS Tool have?
Usually information on the most recent tax year refund the IRS has on file for you.
Can I use Where's My Refund? to check the status of a refund on a prior year return.
Where's My Refund? will usually display the status of your most recently filed tax return within the past two tax years.
For returns filed on or after July 1, refund information will remain available throughout the following year until you file a tax return for a more current tax year.
Will Where's My Refund? show me when I'll receive my refund?
Where's My Refund? will give you a personalized date after the IRS processes your return and approves your refund.
How will I know the IRS is processing my tax return?
Where's My Refund? follows your tax return from receipt to completion. It will tell you when your return is in received status and if your refund is in approved or sent status.
What is happening when Where's My Refund? shows my tax return status as received?
The IRS has your tax return and is processing it.
What is happening when Where's My Refund? shows my refund's status as approved?
The IRS has approved your refund. The IRS is preparing to send your refund to your bank or directly to you in the mail. This status will tell you when the IRS will send the refund to your bank (if you selected the direct deposit option). Please wait five (5) days after the IRS has sent the refund to check with your bank about your refund, since banks vary in how and when they credit funds. (It could take several weeks before you receive a mailed refund check.)
Still having issues? Call Congressman Sherman's Constituent Services Team
If you are still having issues, contact Congressman Sherman's constituent services team at 818-501-9200 or visit BradSherman.house.gov/Help. Congressman Sherman's constituent services team has helped Valley residents deal with the IRS and many other Federal agencies and stand ready to assist with any issues that you may have.
FAQs
The IRS will send you a CP237A if the tax refund check they sent you was never deposited. If you received this notice, call 1-800-829-0115 to claim your refund. In most cases, you will get your refund within 30 days of contacting the IRS.
How do I get an undelivered IRS refund? ›
Answer: If you lost your refund check, you should initiate a refund trace: Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 and use the automated system, or speak with an agent by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation).
What to do if a tax refund is not received? ›
Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 and use the automated system, or speak with an agent by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation). However, if you filed a married filing jointly return, you can't initiate a trace using the automated systems.
How do I contact the IRS if I haven't received my refund? ›
More In Help
Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 (toll-free) and use the automated system, or speak with a representative by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation). If you filed a married filing jointly return, you can't initiate a trace using the automated systems.
What do I do if my refund is not received? ›
If you've been expecting a refund and haven't received it, you should first check with the company to see what's going on. Some companies take longer than normal to process refunds, so check if they have any delays.
What does "undelivered refund returned to IRS" mean? ›
According to IRS, undeliverable refunds are caused by (1) taxpayers moving and leaving no forwarding address with the Postal Service or IRS, (2) the Postal Service not delivering or forwarding refund checks, and (3) IRS incorrectly recording taxpayers' addresses.
Will the USPS forward a tax refund check? ›
The U.S. Postal Service will usually forward any letters or refund checks from the IRS if you notify it of your change of address, but you should still file a change of address with the IRS to ensure that there's no miscommunication or lost paperwork. 1.
How long can the IRS hold your refund? ›
If you provide the information the IRS requested, the IRS should correct your account and resolve the refund issue (generally within 60 days). If you file a missing or late return, the IRS will process your returns and issue your refunds (generally within 90 days).
Can I live chat with an IRS agent? ›
Getting help from Direct File customer support
If you need help while you're filing your return in Direct File, real-time live chat support from an IRS customer service representative will be available, with an option for a follow up phone call from an IRS assistor where needed.
Is the IRS behind on refunds in 2024? ›
The amount of tax refund money the IRS has sent out continues to pick up, even though the total number of refunds sent so far in 2024 is continuing to lag slightly behind the numbers for the same period in 2023. (Here's how to see the status of your tax refund.)
Keep in mind that any interest you receive on tax refunds is considered taxable income during the year you receive it. Call us at 1-800-829-0922 to review your account with a representative. Be sure to have your account information available when you call.
Where are IRS refund checks mailed from? ›
The locations are in Philadelphia and Kansas City Mo. HI Thao: IRS Refund checks come from the Department of Treasury, If you're wondering when to check for your money from your federal tax refund status in the mail, you should know when the IRS will send it. Generally, any paper checks issued are sent out on Fridays.
Can the IRS take longer than 21 days? ›
The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. However, it's possible your tax return may require additional review and take longer.
Should I be worried if my refund is delayed? ›
How long a refund is delayed depends on the issue with the return. The IRS often can correct math errors without involving taxpayers, so those refunds might be delayed just a few weeks. If there are concerns about possible identity theft, taxpayers could wait more than a year, according to the IRS.
Why is my federal refund taking so long? ›
Why is my refund taking so long? A refund will take longer if you file by mail or don't select direct deposit. In addition, if the return is more complex or corrections are needed, it may slow the process down.
How do I track my IRS refund with tracking number? ›
You can get fast answers about your refund by using the Where's My Refund? tool available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go mobile app.
How do I get a person on the phone at IRS? ›
Contact an IRS customer service representative to correct any agency errors by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation).
How do I speak to someone at the IRS? ›
For individual tax returns, call 1-800-829-1040, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time. The wait time to speak with a representative may be long. This option works best for less complex questions. For questions about a business tax return, call 1-800-829-4933, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time.
What is undeliverable mail from the IRS? ›
When used at the IRS, this term refers to mail that the USPS handled, could not deliver, and returned to the IRS. It includes mail that could not be delivered for reasons including but not limited to: the recipient had died, illegible address, delivery was refused or unclaimed.
