Check the IRS Where's My Refund tool first
The IRS Where's My Refund tool is the fastest way to find out whether your refund is still processing, held up, or already sent. Go to irs.gov, click "Where's My Refund," and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight.
The tool will show you one of four statuses: your return is still being processed, your refund has been approved and a payment date has been set, your refund was sent on a specific date, or there is a problem with your return that needs your attention. If it says your refund was sent more than 21 days ago and you have not received it, move to the next section.
If you filed by mail instead of electronically, processing takes longer — typically 8 to 12 weeks instead of 21 days. The Where's My Refund tool may not show your return for several weeks after you mail it. If you mailed your return and it has been fewer than 12 weeks, check again in a week or two.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS Where's My Refund tool shows the current status of your refund and updates once per day; check it before taking any other action.
- If the tool says your refund was sent more than 21 days ago, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 to report it as missing and request a trace.
- A refund sent by direct deposit usually arrives within three business days of the IRS release date, but a paper check can take two to three weeks.
- If your refund was held because of a math error, missing information, or identity verification, the IRS will send you a letter explaining what is needed and how to respond.
- If you filed jointly and your spouse received their share of the refund but you did not, contact the IRS immediately because your portion may have been offset to pay a debt.
Understand the difference between release date and arrival date
The IRS releases refunds on a schedule, but that is not the same as the day the money lands in your account. When the Where's My Refund tool shows a date, that is the date the IRS sent the refund to your bank or the post office — not the date you will see it.
If you chose direct deposit, the money should arrive within three business days of the release date. If the release date was more than three business days ago and the money is not in your account, the delay is likely on your bank's end or there is a problem with the account number you provided to the IRS. If you chose a paper check, allow two to three weeks from the release date for it to arrive by mail.
Weekends and federal holidays do not count as business days. If the IRS released your refund on a Friday, the three-day window runs through the following Tuesday or Wednesday.
File a refund trace if your refund was sent more than 21 days ago
Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and tell them your refund has not arrived. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS will file a refund trace — an investigation into where the money went.
The IRS will ask whether you received the refund by direct deposit or check. If direct deposit, they will confirm the account number on file and may ask your bank to search for the deposit. If check, they will verify the address where it was mailed. The trace takes about four weeks. The IRS will contact you by mail with the results.
If the trace shows the IRS sent the money to the wrong account or address because of an error on your return, you will need to correct that information. If the trace shows the money was sent correctly but your bank never received it, your bank will need to investigate on their end. If the check was mailed to the correct address but never arrived, the IRS may issue a replacement check.
Check whether your refund was offset or held
The IRS can hold or redirect your refund if you owe money to the federal government, a state, or a child support agency. This is called offset. If your refund was offset, the Where's My Refund tool will not show a payment date — instead, it will say your return is still being processed or that there is a problem.
The IRS will send you a letter called a Notice of Federal Offset if your refund was taken. The letter explains who the debt is owed to and how much was offset. If you believe the offset was wrong — for example, if the debt was already paid or does not belong to you — you can dispute it by following the instructions in the letter.
If you filed a joint return and only your spouse's portion of the refund arrived, your share may have been offset without your knowledge. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to find out whether an offset was applied to your portion of the refund.
Look for a letter from the IRS about a problem with your return
If the Where's My Refund tool says there is a problem, or if your refund has not moved in more than 30 days, check your mail for a letter from the IRS. The IRS sends letters when it finds a math error, missing information, or something that does not match IRS records.
Common reasons for delay include a missing or mismatched Social Security number for a dependent, a name that does not match IRS records, or a claim for a refundable tax credit that the IRS wants to verify. The letter will explain exactly what is wrong and what you need to do to fix it. Some letters ask you to send documents; others ask you to call a number or respond online.
If you have not received a letter and the Where's My Refund tool does not show a problem, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. They can tell you whether a letter is on the way or whether your return is genuinely stuck.
Verify your bank account information if you chose direct deposit
If the Where's My Refund tool shows your refund was released by direct deposit more than three business days ago and the money never arrived, the problem is likely with the account number or routing number you provided on your return.
Pull up a copy of your 2023 tax return and check the account and routing numbers in the direct deposit section. Compare them to a recent bank statement or the routing number on a check from that account. If the numbers do not match, or if you are not sure they are correct, call your bank and ask them to confirm the correct routing number.
If you find an error, you will need to contact the IRS to report it. Call 800-829-1040 and explain that the account number on your return was wrong. The IRS can issue a replacement refund by check or, in some cases, correct the account number and reissue the direct deposit — but this takes additional time. A check is usually faster.
Request a replacement check or reissue if the original refund is lost
If the refund trace confirms the IRS sent your money correctly but it never arrived, you can request a replacement. For a direct deposit that was sent to the wrong account, the IRS will issue a check instead. For a check that was lost in the mail, the IRS will issue a new one.
The IRS will mail the replacement to the address on your return. It typically takes two to three weeks to arrive. If you need the money sooner, ask the IRS whether you can pick up the check at a local IRS office, though not all offices offer this option.
Keep the letter from the refund trace in case the replacement check is also delayed. You will need it to prove you already reported the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the IRS take to process a 2023 return filed electronically?
The IRS aims to process electronic returns and issue refunds within 21 days. Most refunds arrive within this window, but some take longer if the return needs review or verification. The Where's My Refund tool will show you the current status and an expected payment date.
What if the Where's My Refund tool says my refund was sent but my bank says they never received it?
Call your bank first and ask them to search their records for a deposit from the IRS on or after the release date shown in the tool. If they confirm no deposit arrived, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and file a refund trace. The IRS will investigate whether the money was sent to the correct account number.
Can the IRS send my refund to a different account if the original one was wrong?
The IRS cannot change the account number after the refund has been released. If you provided the wrong account number, the IRS will issue a replacement refund by check instead. This takes an additional two to three weeks.
What does it mean if the Where's My Refund tool says my return is still being processed after 60 days?
A return that is still processing after 60 days usually means the IRS is reviewing it for errors, verifying information, or waiting for you to respond to a letter. Check your mail for a letter from the IRS. If you do not find one, call 800-829-1040 to find out what is holding up your return.
If I filed jointly, can my spouse's refund arrive while mine is delayed?
Yes. If your spouse's portion arrived but yours did not, your share may have been offset to pay a debt, or there may be a problem with your Social Security number on the return. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to find out why your portion was not included.