The fastest way to reach the IRS about your refund
Call the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (your local time). Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return ready before you call. Wait times are shortest early in the morning and in the afternoon after 3 p.m.
If you prefer not to call, you can check your refund status online at IRS.gov/refunds without speaking to anyone. This tool tells you whether the IRS has received your return, is processing it, has approved your refund, or has issued it. You can also use the IRS2Go mobile app, which shows the same information.
The IRS does not send refunds by phone or email, and no IRS employee will ever ask you to verify personal information over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be from the IRS and asking for your details, hang up — that is a scam.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS refund hotline is 1-800-829-1954, open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time.
- You can check your refund status online at IRS.gov/refunds or through the IRS2Go app without waiting on hold.
- Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount from your return before you call.
- The IRS will never call you first or ask you to confirm personal information by phone — any call claiming to be from the IRS asking for details is a scam.
What information you need before you call
Gather these four things before dialing 1-800-829-1954. First, your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Second, your filing status from the return you filed — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, or may have access to widow(er). Third, the exact refund amount you claimed on your return. Fourth, the year of the return you are asking about.
If you filed electronically, you should also have your confirmation number from the filing service you used. If you mailed a paper return, have the date you mailed it and the address you sent it to. The IRS representative can look up your return faster if you provide these details upfront.
Using the online refund tracker instead of calling
The IRS refund tracker at IRS.gov/refunds tells you the status of your refund without a phone call. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount, and the tool shows you one of four statuses: "Return Received," "Refund Approved," "Refund Sent," or "Refund Delivered."
The tracker updates once per day, usually overnight. If your return was filed electronically, the tracker typically shows "Return Received" within 24 hours. If you mailed a paper return, it may take two to three weeks for the IRS to scan and log it into the system. Checking the tracker every few days is more useful than calling, because the phone line cannot tell you anything the website cannot.
The IRS2Go mobile app shows the same information as the website. Download it from your phone's app store, sign in with your Social Security number and filing status, and you can check your status from anywhere.
When to call instead of checking online
Call the IRS if the tracker shows "Refund Sent" but you have not received the money after the timeline the IRS gave you. The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return, but some returns take longer if they are selected for review or if there is an error on the return. If you were told to expect your refund by a certain date and it has not arrived, the phone line can tell you whether it was sent to the wrong bank account or address.
Also call if the tracker shows an error message, does not recognize your return at all after three weeks, or if you received a notice from the IRS saying there is a problem with your return. The phone representative can explain what the IRS found and what you need to do next.
Do not call to ask general questions about tax law or how to file your next return — the refund line handles refund status only. For other tax questions, use the IRS website or contact a tax professional.
What happens when you reach the IRS
When you call 1-800-829-1954, you will hear an automated system first. It will ask you to enter your Social Security number and filing status using your phone keypad. After you enter this information, the system checks your return and may give you your refund status automatically without connecting you to a representative. If the automated system can answer your question, you will not wait on hold.
If the automated system cannot resolve your issue, you will be placed in a queue for a representative. Wait times vary by season — they are longest during tax season (January through April) and shortest in the fall. If you are told the wait is longer than 30 minutes, you can hang up and call back later or use the online tracker instead.
When a representative picks up, tell them your refund status question clearly. They can see your return on their screen and will tell you whether your refund has been processed, when it was sent, and where it was sent to. If there is a problem, they can note it in your file and may be able to reissue your refund to a different address or bank account if needed.
If your refund is delayed or missing
If the IRS says your refund was sent but you have not received it after 21 days, ask the representative whether it was sent by direct deposit or check. If it was direct deposit, ask them to verify the bank account and routing number on file — refunds sent to the wrong account are the most common reason for missing money. If the account information is wrong, the representative can file a trace to locate the refund and may reissue it.
If your refund was sent by check and you have not received it after 21 days, the IRS can file a "refund trace" at no cost. This process takes about four weeks. The IRS will investigate whether the check was lost in the mail, cashed by someone else, or never sent. If the check was lost or never sent, the IRS will reissue your refund by direct deposit or a new check.
If you moved after filing your return, the check may have been sent to your old address. Contact the post office and ask them to forward mail from your old address, or file a change of address with the IRS using Form 8822 at IRS.gov.
Avoiding IRS refund scams
The IRS will never call you first about your refund, will never ask you to pay a fee to receive your refund, and will never ask you to confirm your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card over the phone. If someone calls claiming to be from the IRS and asks for any of this information, hang up immediately. This is a scam.
Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make their number look like it is coming from the IRS. They may threaten you with arrest or say you owe back taxes. Do not give them any information. If you are unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call the IRS yourself at 1-800-829-1954 to ask whether they tried to reach you.
Report scam calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov or by calling 1-800-366-4484. You can also report them to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to talk to someone at the IRS refund line?
Wait times vary by season and time of day. During tax season (January through April), you may wait 30 minutes to over an hour. Outside tax season, waits are usually under 15 minutes. Calling early in the morning or after 3 p.m. typically has shorter waits than midday.
Can I email the IRS about my refund?
The IRS does not have a general email address for refund questions. You must use the online tracker at IRS.gov/refunds, call 1-800-829-1954, or visit an IRS office in person. Some tax professionals and certified volunteer sites can also contact the IRS on your behalf.
What if I filed my return through a tax preparation company?
Contact your tax preparation company first — they may be able to look up your refund status in their system or contact the IRS for you. If they cannot help, you can still call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1954 with your Social Security number and refund amount.
Can I get my refund faster by calling the IRS?
No. Calling the IRS does not speed up processing. The IRS processes returns in the order they are received. Calling only helps if your refund is delayed, lost, or sent to the wrong account. Otherwise, checking the online tracker is faster and does not require a phone call.
What should I do if the IRS says my refund was sent but my bank says they never received it?
Call the IRS back and ask them to verify the exact bank account and routing number they have on file. If the numbers are wrong, the IRS can file a trace and reissue your refund. If the numbers are correct, the IRS will investigate with your bank to locate the deposit.