Where can i check my federal tax return status

We are not responsible for a lost refund if you entered the wrong account information for a direct deposit.

In general, if you have an issue with your direct deposit, such as closing your bank account after you submitted your return, the financial institution will return the funds to us. Once the funds are returned, we will issue a paper check to the address indicated on your return.

The following are some common issues with direct deposits and how they are handled:

• You omit a digit in the account or routing number of an account and the number does not pass our validation check. In this case, we will send you a paper check for the refund instead of a direct deposit.
• You incorrectly enter an account or routing number and the number passes the validation check, but the designated financial institution rejects and returns the deposit to us. We will issue a paper check for the amount of that deposit once it is received.
• You requested a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) or Refund Anticipation Check (RAC) through your preparer or preparation software. Usually this occurs when you authorize the fee for preparation to be taken from your refund. Even if you did not request a direct deposit, these types of refunds are directly deposited into the preparer�s financial institution, so you should contact the preparer for resolution.
• If funds are not available or the bank refuses to return the funds, we cannot compel the bank to do so. The case may then become a civil matter between you and the financial institution and/or the owner of the account into which the funds were deposited.

TurboTax also has a Where's My Refund Tracking guide that explains each step of the efiling process and how to check the status of your federal tax refund.

Checking your tax refund status online

Step 1—Wait

Wait at least three days after e-filing your tax return before checking a refund status. When you e-file your tax return to the IRS, it needs approximately three days to update your information on the website.

If you e-filed your tax return using TurboTax, you can check your e-file status online, to ensure it was accepted by the IRS. You'll also receive an e-mail confirmation directly from the IRS.

However, if you mail a paper copy of your tax return, the IRS recommends that you wait three weeks before you begin checking your refund status. Most taxpayers who e-file will receive their tax refund sooner.

Step 2—Obtain a copy of your tax return

Before you sit down to check your refund status, the IRS requires that you have some of the information from your tax return. If you printed a copy of your tax return, grab it—you’ll need the following information from it:

• The Social Security number that you entered at the top of your tax return
• The filing status you chose, which you can locate in the top portion of the first page to your tax form.
• The exact amount of your tax refund. You can find this at the end of your tax return.

Step 3—Go to the "Where’s My Refund?" page on the IRS website

When you access the "Where's My Refund?" tool, you will see three separate boxes to enter your filing status, refund amount and Social Security number. When you finish entering this information, click on the "Submit" button on the page to see the status of your refund.

Other ways to check your tax refund status

If you don’t have access to the Internet or a computer, you can call the IRS at 800-829-1954 to obtain the status of your refund. You will need the same three pieces of information as those who use the online tool, so be sure you have a copy of your tax return available.

TurboTax also has a Where's My Refund Tracking step-by-step guide that will show you how to find the status of your IRS or state tax refund. Use TurboTax, IRS, and state resources to track your tax refund, check return status, and learn about common delays.

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Where’s My Refund? will give you a personalized refund date after we process your return and approve your refund.

The tracker displays progress through three stages:

1. Return Received
2. Refund Approved
3. 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 expected refund.

Prior Year Refund Information

Where’s My Refund? will display the refund status of the tax year you choose. If you need other return information, view your Online Account.

What if my refund was lost, stolen, or destroyed?

Generally, you can file an online claim for a replacement check if it's been more than 28 days from the date we mailed your refund. Where's My Refund? will give you detailed information about filing a claim if this situation applies to you.

For more information, check our Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

What information is not available?

Amended Tax Returns

Refund information for Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return is not available on Where’s My Refund. Use Where’s My Amended Return? to get the status of your amended return.

Our phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your amended return 16 weeks or more after you’ve mailed it.

Business Tax Return Information

For refund information on federal tax returns other than Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, call, toll free, at 800-829-4933. From outside the U.S., call 267-941-1000. TTY/TDD: 800-829-4059.