Discover the cash that the IRS owes you. We acquired your again.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Are you pondering the place your tax refund cash is? For those who filed your 2020 tax return earlier than the Could 17 deadline — that is Monday, by the way in which — you could possibly nonetheless be ready for that refund cash from the IRS. We’ll stroll you thru learn how to use IRS tracker instruments to get an replace in your refund standing. (And if submitting your taxes continues to be in your to-do listing, you may must file your tax return or request an extension ASAP.)
The IRS is anticipating some refund delays this 12 months, and there are just a few the reason why chances are you’ll not have acquired yours but — for instance, if the IRS is doing additional calculations since you qualify for a Restoration Rebate Credit score or for those who filed a paper tax return by snail mail. The web IRS instruments let in case your tax return was acquired, if the IRS is processing it or when your refund was mailed out or deposited electronically in your checking account.
The IRS instruments may help in different methods — for those who suppose your third stimulus test is lacking, you possibly can monitor the standing of your fee. This is extra details about whether or not you may must file an amended tax type, for those who’re eligible for different COVID-related credit and advantages and learn how to see if the IRS has a tax refund you might want to declare. If in case you have children, here is learn how to calculate how a lot cash you may get by baby tax credit. And for those who acquired unemployment in 2020, you could possibly get more money together with your refund for those who qualify for a tax break. This story is up to date continuously.
Is the IRS taking longer to course of tax returns this 12 months?
Due to the pandemic, the IRS ran at restricted capability final 12 months, which put a pressure on its skill to course of tax returns and ship out stimulus checks. The IRS is now open once more and processing mail, tax returns, funds, refunds and correspondence, the company mentioned, however the pandemic continues to trigger delays in a few of companies.
The IRS mentioned it’s issuing most refunds in lower than 21 days proper now however some are taking longer, together with for mailed paper tax returns. The IRS mentioned it is also taking longer than 21 days to challenge refunds for some 2020 tax returns that require evaluation, reminiscent of figuring out Restoration Rebate Credit score quantities for the primary and second stimulus checks or figuring earned revenue tax credit score and extra baby tax credit score quantities.
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Your tax questions answered in 3 minutes
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How do I check the status of my income tax refund?
To track the status of your tax refund, you need several things on hand: Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, your filing status — single, married or head of household — and your refund amount in whole dollars, which you can find on your tax return. Also, make sure it’s been at least 24 hours before you try tracking your refund.
Using the IRS tool Where’s My Refund, enter your SSN or ITIN, your filing status and your exact refund amount, then press Submit. If you entered your information correctly, you’ll be taken to a page that shows your refund status. If not, you may be asked to verify your personal tax data and try again. If all the information looks correct, you’ll need to enter the date you filed your taxes, along with whether you filed electronically or on paper.
The IRS also has a mobile app, called IRS2Go, that checks your tax refund status. The IRS updates the data in this tool overnight, so if you don’t see a status change after 24 hours or more, check back the following day.
When will I receive my IRS refund?
The IRS usually issues tax refunds within 21 days, and many people get their refunds much sooner. However, this year, with the IRS facing complications, some taxpayers are expected to face longer wait times to receive their payments.
If there are any errors, it might take the agency longer to process and issue your tax refund. The same goes for people who filed a claim for an earned income tax credit or the child tax credit. (Here’s who qualifies for the child tax credit.)
The date you get your tax refund also depends on how you filed your return. For example, with refunds going into your bank account via direct deposit, it could take an additional five days for your bank to post it to your account. This means if it took the IRS the full 21 days to issue your check and your bank five days to post it, you may be waiting a total of 26 days to get your money.
If you submitted your tax return by mail, the IRS says it could take six to eight weeks for your tax refund to arrive. That’s where tracking your refund comes in handy. Here are some possible dates when you could receive your refund if you filed or plan to file electronically.
When your tax refund could arrive, if no additional delay
| If you file or filed on this date | This is the soonest | This is the latest |
|---|---|---|
| March 1 | March 8 | March 22 |
| April 1 | April 8 | April 22 |
| April 15 | April 22 | May 6 |
| May 17 (last day to file) | May 24 | June 7 |
| Oct. 15 (last day with extension) | Oct. 22 | Nov. 5 |
What is causing delays with my refund money?
The IRS has a list of reasons your refund could potentially be delayed.
- Your tax return has errors.
- It’s incomplete.
- Your refund has been affected by identity theft or fraud.
- You filed for the earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit.
- Your return needs further review.
- Your return includes Form 8379 (PDF), injured spouse allocation — this could take 14 weeks to process.
Will the IRS respond to my tax questions by phone?
While you can technically call the IRS to check your status, the agency’s live phone assistance is extremely limited right now, so you may wait on hold for a while to speak to a representative. Also, the IRS says you should only call if it’s been 21 or more days since you filed your taxes online, or if the Where’s My Refund tool tells you to contact the IRS.
For more information about your 2020 taxes, here’s how to claim missing stimulus money on your taxes and everything to know about the third stimulus check.
How should I interpret these refund status messages?
Both the IRS tools (online and mobile app) will show you one of three messages to explain your tax return status.
- Received: The IRS now has your tax return and is working to process it.
- Approved: The IRS has processed your return and confirmed the amount of your refund, if you’re owed one.
- Sent: Your refund is now on its way to your bank via direct deposit or as a paper check to your mailbox. (Here’s how to change your address on file if you moved.)
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