As many people file federal returns in the first half of April — and many more have already filed — individuals and families across the state are likely waiting to receive their refund. According to the Internal Revenue Service, refunds on clean returns are generally issued within 21 days of the receipt of the return, but numerous factors can delay that timeline.
In general, you’ll get your refund faster if you opt to have it directly deposited into a bank account or other electronic payment vehicle, as you avoid the time it takes the IRS to cut and mail a paper check. Regardless of how you opt to receive your refund, the IRS provides a tracking tool called “Where’s my Refund” that is usually updated every 24 hours.
The IRS advises that you check the state of your refund 24 hours after your tax preparer or software confirms the return was received by the IRS to ensure processing is actually occurring. The agency advises those who mail returns to check after four weeks. Since the tool is updated every 24 hours or less, then checking multiple times in a single day will likely not provide different results.
You do need some specific information to check on your refund: Your Social Security number or tax identification number, the exact amount you expect to receive as a refund and the filing status used on your return. The refund tracking tool can be accessed online or through the IRS’s IRS2Go mobile application.
Tracking your refund can be exciting, especially if you plan to do something fun with the money. Not everyone is as lucky with the IRS, though, and if you owe a lot of money, it may help to seek third party advice on how best to work with the IRS to make payments.
Source: IRS, “Where’s My Refund? – It’s Quick, Easy and Secure.,” accessed April. 03, 2015