Waiting for a US federal income tax refund? The Internal Revenue Service offers a free online tool to track refund progress. You do not need to pay a third-party service to check the status of a federal refund.
Use the official IRS tool
Visit Where’s My Refund? on the IRS website. Have your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, filing status and exact whole-dollar refund amount from your tax return ready. The tool provides a status after the IRS processes your return information.
Understand the refund stages
The IRS tool commonly displays three stages: Return Received, Refund Approved and Refund Sent. A refund marked sent may still take additional time to reach your bank or arrive by mail. Timing varies with return accuracy, filing method, credits claimed, identity checks and other reviews.
When should you check?
For electronically filed returns, refund status is generally available about 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of a current-year return. Paper-filed returns can take several weeks before status appears. Checking repeatedly throughout the day is unlikely to help because the system generally updates once daily.
What if your refund is delayed?
Follow any IRS notices and check the status tool for instructions. The IRS cautions that some returns require additional review. Avoid fake refund messages: the IRS does not initiate contact through unexpected texts, emails or social media messages demanding personal information. Read the IRS tax scam alerts and our account security guide.
Updated October 29, 2026. Government eligibility rules, fees and processing times may change; always check official agency guidance before applying.
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