- Tax season opened on Jan. 29 this year.
- There are multiple reasons your refund could be delayed past the normal time. Whatever the reason, you can check the status of your refund online.
- Taxpayers generally see their refunds 21 days after filing, but those who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) will be waiting a bit longer.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Tax season opened on Jan. 29 this year, so why haven’t some taxpayers seen their refund from the IRS yet?
There are multiple reasons your refund could be delayed past the normal time. Whatever the reason, you can check the status of your refund online.
The easiest way to check your refund status is by usingthe Where’s My Refund tool,which you can find on IRS.gov or theIRS2Goapp.
Taxpayers generally see their refunds 21 days after filing, but those who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) will be waiting a bit longer.
The IRS says most EITC and ACTC refunds will be issued by Feb. 27.
This is because, by law, the IRS must wait until mid-February to issue refunds to taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The Where’s My Refund tool shows when your return is received, approved and sent. It could take up to five days for the refund to end up in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail, the IRS noted.
New this year, the IRS Direct File pilot service rolled out for a select few states, including those in California. The online resource walks you through preparing your return with a step-by-step checklist and gives you the option to file for free online directly with the IRS.
The IRS Free File program is also available to help taxpayers prepare and file tax returns online using guided tax preparation software.
Free tax preparation help is available across the country through IRS volunteers for taxpayers who make under $64,000 and for those over 60 years old.
U.S. Military members and some veterans can get free tax return preparation help through the Department of Defense program MilTax.
The IRS expects more than 128.7 million tax returns to be filed by the tax deadline on April 15. However, the deadline for Maine and Massachusetts is April 17 because of the Patriot’s Day and Emancipation Day holidays.
Oct. 15 closes out the tax filing season as the due date for extension filers.
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FAQs
Your refund may be delayed if your return needs corrections or extra review. If we need more information to process your return, we'll send you a letter.
What tax credits delay refund? ›
The IRS is challenging tax credit(s) you claimed:
If the IRS doesn't think you're eligible to claim the EITC, ACTC, advanced payments of the premium tax credit, or American Opportunity Tax Credit, based on its return screening filters, the IRS can delay your refund and ask for more information.
Why is my refund taking so long after verifying my identity? ›
What happens after I successfully verify? We'll process your tax return. It may take up to 9 weeks to receive your refund or credit any overpayment to your account. However, if we find other problems, we'll contact you again and this may delay your refund.
What day is the IRS releasing EITC refunds in 2024? ›
The IRS expects most EITC and ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by Feb. 27, 2024, if the taxpayer chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return.
Why hasn't my refund been approved yet? ›
An incomplete return, an inaccurate return, an amended return, tax fraud, claiming tax credits, owing certain debts for which the government can take part or all of your refund, and sending your refund to the wrong bank due to an incorrect routing number are all reasons that a tax refund can be delayed.
How do I know if my tax return has been flagged? ›
Taxpayers whose tax returns have been flagged for possible identity theft should receive one of the following letters: Letter 5071C, Potential Identity Theft during Original Processing with Online Option – Provides online and phone options and is issued most widely.
Where's my refund currently unavailable? ›
The IRS might need to verify your identity for security reasons. Wait for further instructions from the IRS or contact them directly. There might be an error on your tax return that needs correction. Contact your tax preparer or the IRS for assistance.
How long can the IRS hold your refund for review? ›
If the IRS is reviewing your return, the review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.
When can I expect my tax refund 2024 with child tax credit? ›
If you go for direct deposit, file online, and make sure your return is error-free, the IRS says you should see your refund in your account by February 27, 2024.
Does it really take 9 weeks for a tax return? ›
More In Refunds
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.
Reasons Your Tax Refund Can Be Delayed
If you're still waiting on your tax refund, it's possible that your tax return is taking longer for the IRS to process because it requires additional review. There are several reasons why your tax return may be delayed: Errors such as an incomplete filing status.
How long after identity verification tax refund 2024? ›
After you verify your identity and tax return information using this service, it may take up to nine weeks to complete the processing of the return. Visit Where's My Refund? or use the IRS2Go mobile app 2-3 weeks after using this service to check your refund status.
Why is my refund taking so long in 2024? ›
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.
Is the IRS sending out EITC refunds yet? ›
Your refund
By law, the IRS cannot issue EITC and ACTC refunds before mid-February. The IRS expects most EITC/Additional CTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by March1, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return.
What disqualifies you from earned income credit? ›
In general, disqualifying income is investment income such as taxable and tax-exempt interest, dividends, child's interest and dividend income reported on the return, child's tax-exempt interest reported on Form 8814, line 1b, net rental and royalty income, net capital gain income, other portfolio income, and net ...
How do I know if the IRS will offset my refund? ›
To determine whether an offset will occur on a debt owed (other than federal tax), contact BFS's TOP call center at 800-304-3107 (800-877-8339 for TTY/TDD help).
Why is the IRS holding my refund? ›
There are many reasons why the IRS may be holding your refund. You have unfiled or missing tax returns for prior tax years. The check was held or returned due to a problem with the name or address. You elected to apply the refund toward your estimated tax liability for next year.
How long is the delay with topic 152? ›
3. How long after seeing Tax Topic 152 will I receive my refund? While the IRS processes most refunds within 21 days, seeing Tax Topic 152 could mean your return needs further review, potentially extending the processing time. The exact timing will vary depending on individual return details.
