Check your federal or state tax refund status | USAGov (2024)

If you expect a federal or state tax refund, you can track its status. Learn how and what information you will need.

Check your federal tax refund status

Before checking on your refund, have the following ready:

  • Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Filing status
  • The exact whole dollar amount of your refund

Use the IRS Where's My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to check your refund online. This is the fastest and easiest way to track your refund. The systems are updated once every 24 hours.

You can contact the IRS to check on the status of your refund. If you call, wait times to speak with a representative can be long. But you can avoid the wait by using the automated phone system. Follow the message prompts when you call.

Find out when to expect your federal tax refund

The IRS generally issues refunds within 21 days of when you electronically filed your tax return, and longer for paper returns. Find out why your refund may be delayed or may not be the amount you expected.

Check your state tax refund status

Contact your state’s taxation department to learn about tracking your state tax refund status.

LAST UPDATED: January 8, 2024

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Check your federal or state tax refund status | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

Check your federal or state tax refund status | USAGov? ›

Use the IRS Where's My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to check your refund online. This is the fastest and easiest way to track your refund. The systems are updated once every 24 hours. You can contact the IRS to check on the status of your refund.

Why I Cannot check my refund status? ›

If we're still reviewing your return, it may display instructions or an explanation of what we're doing. The refund tracker may not appear until we've completed our review of your tax return.

How do I know if my federal refund was approved? ›

The most convenient way to check on a tax refund is by using the Where's My Refund? tool. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received. The tool also provides a personalized refund date after the return is processed and a refund is approved.

How do I figure out my federal refund? ›

Where's My Refund has the latest information on your return. If you don't have internet access, you may call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954 for a current-year refund or 866-464-2050 for an amended return.

How do I know if the state took my federal refund? ›

Offset letter

BFS will send you a letter explaining why your federal refund was reduced and that it may take several weeks before the federal refund reaches FTB. They will also send any remaining federal refund amount to you. To get a copy of your letter, contact us.

Why is the IRS saying information doesn't match? ›

If your return doesn't match the details they have on hand, they will send you a notice informing you that there's a discrepancy. This may be due to outdated records, a transcription error, or a deeper problem. Preparation is key.

Why does my tax refund say information doesn't match? ›

The IRS relies on accurate and up-to-date records to match your information. If you've recently changed your name, address, or employment details without notifying the IRS and the Social Security Administration (SSA), your tax return may trigger a mismatch.

Does accepted mean my refund is approved? ›

“Accepted” simply means that the IRS has received your tax return. This does not necessarily mean that your tax return has been approved, and it does not mean that you will receive a refund. Your return is marked as “accepted” usually within 24-48 hours of submitting it electronically.

Why has my refund been accepted but not approved? ›

"IRS Accepted Return But Not Approved" Meaning

If a taxpayer receives the status update that their tax return was accepted but not approved, this means that the IRS has received their tax return, but they have not yet evaluated the information.

How long once your refund is approved? ›

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.

What is the average tax return for a single person making $60,000? ›

If you make $60,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $13,653. That means that your net pay will be $46,347 per year, or $3,862 per month.

What time does the IRS update the refund status? ›

The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more often. This prevents individuals from having to contact the IRS for updates unless the tool requests them to call. Where's My Refund?

Where's my refund ok? ›

To check the refund status, visit OkTAP at tax.ok.gov and click “Where's My Refund.”

Why have I gotten my federal refund but not state? ›

Because the IRS is separate from your state's Department of Revenue, sometimes you will receive your federal refund before your state refund, or vice versa.

Does state refund come before or after federal? ›

Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong? Refunds usually take about 21 days after the IRS has accepted your e-filed return. Although, sometimes it can take longer.

Why did I only get part of my tax refund? ›

If you owe money to a federal or state agency, the federal government may use part or all of your federal tax refund to repay the debt. This is called a tax refund offset. If your tax refund is lower than you calculated, it may be due to a tax refund offset for an unpaid debt such as child support.

How long does it take for the IRS to approve a refund after it is accepted stimulus? ›

Refund Sent

Updates to refund status are made once a day — usually at night. Even with the January 30 opening of the tax season, we expect refunds to be issued within normal timeframes. The IRS issued more than 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days last year.

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.

What does code 152 mean on Where's My refund? ›

Tax Topic 152 means the IRS is processing your refund. That's all it means. The IRS has received your tax refund, and the agency is processing it. For some reason, processing is taking longer than usual, but unfortunately, this Tax Topic doesn't explain why processing is taking so long.

Why does my tax transcript say no record of return filed? ›

If you see a message of “No Record of return filed” for the current tax year, it means information has not populated to the transcript yet.

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