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Once you have filed your tax return, it is a good idea to check the status of a federal tax refund so that you have an idea of when to expect your payment and verification that your return was received and there are no problems with it.
Time Limits
If you file your federal tax return electronically, you should be able to check on the status of your federal tax refund 72 hours after you receive verification that your return has been received by the Internal Revenue Service. Usually, you receive this notification via email at the address you provided when you e-filed your tax return.
If you filed your federal tax return manually by mail, then you will have to wait longer before you can check on the status of your refund. With manual returns, a minimum of three to four weeks is needed for the IRS to process tax returns. If you check and the IRS still does not have information available about your tax refund, wait one more week and check again.
Checking with the IRS
The IRS website (www.IRS.gov ) has a section where you can check on the status of your refund. This information is available in both English and Spanish. When you access this area – Where is My Refund – make sure you have all of your relevant information that will identify you. This includes your filing status (single, married, etc), your social security number and the total refund you are expecting.
Once you complete this information, you will be given one of a number of different answers.
You may be given the date you can expect your refund to be direct deposited into a bank account you have specified when filing your return.
The Internal Revenue Service also provides the opportunity for the visually impaired to access their refund information online with the Job Access with Speech (JAWS) screen reader application.
Summary
Once you have filed your federal tax return, it is possible to check the status of your tax refund by checking with online on the IRS website or by calling them directly on the phone. You can check on the status of your refund either 72 hours after you have received notification of receipt of your return if you filed electronically or three to four weeks after mailing in your return. Before contacting the Internal Revenue Service, make sure that you have all of the needed information to identify yourself.
Time Limits
If you file your federal tax return electronically, you should be able to check on the status of your federal tax refund 72 hours after you receive verification that your return has been received by the Internal Revenue Service. Usually, you receive this notification via email at the address you provided when you e-filed your tax return.
If you filed your federal tax return manually by mail, then you will have to wait longer before you can check on the status of your refund. With manual returns, a minimum of three to four weeks is needed for the IRS to process tax returns. If you check and the IRS still does not have information available about your tax refund, wait one more week and check again.
Checking with the IRS
The IRS website (www.IRS.gov ) has a section where you can check on the status of your refund. This information is available in both English and Spanish. When you access this area – Where is My Refund – make sure you have all of your relevant information that will identify you. This includes your filing status (single, married, etc), your social security number and the total refund you are expecting.
Once you complete this information, you will be given one of a number of different answers.
You may be given the date you can expect your refund to be direct deposited into a bank account you have specified when filing your return.
- You may be given a notification that your return has been received and is being processed.
- You may be notified that your refund was not deliverable to the address you provided – you can then change your address on the website.
- You may also be notified that there are problems with your return and directed to how to resolve those problems.
The Internal Revenue Service also provides the opportunity for the visually impaired to access their refund information online with the Job Access with Speech (JAWS) screen reader application.
Summary
Once you have filed your federal tax return, it is possible to check the status of your tax refund by checking with online on the IRS website or by calling them directly on the phone. You can check on the status of your refund either 72 hours after you have received notification of receipt of your return if you filed electronically or three to four weeks after mailing in your return. Before contacting the Internal Revenue Service, make sure that you have all of the needed information to identify yourself.
