Check the status of your refund with Where’s My Refund?

Expecting a refund? You can check on it using Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go Mobile App within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return or four weeks after you mailed a paper return. Where’s My Refund? includes a tracker that displays progress through 3 stages:

1. Return Received
2. Refund Approved
3. Refund Sent

When the IRS processes your tax return and approves the refund, you can see your expected refund date.

While the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it’s possible your refund may take longer. Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after the IRS receives your return including the time it takes for your financial institution to post the refund to your account or for you to receive it by mail.

Where’s My Refund? is updated no more than once every 24 hours, usually overnight, so you don’t need to check more often. Keep in mind that IRS phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your refund:

• 21 days after you filed electronically;
• six weeks after you mailed your paper return; or
• if Where’s My Refund? directs you to contact the IRS.

The IRS2Go app is free and available on Google Play, the Apple App Store or Amazon. If you don't have Internet access, you can call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954.

Have questions? Visit 2017 Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions on IRS.gov