Where to check your 2020 refund

The IRS has three ways to check a 2020 tax refund: the IRS Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov, the IRS2Go mobile app, or by calling the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. Where's My Refund is the fastest — it updates every 24 hours and shows your refund status in real time. You will need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount from your 2020 return.

The IRS2Go app works the same way as the website but runs on your phone. The phone line has longer wait times, especially during tax season, but a representative can answer questions the tool cannot — for instance, if your refund was held because of an offset or if there was a problem with your return.

If you filed your 2020 return through a tax preparer or software company, you can also contact them directly. They may have their own tracking system or can pull your status from the IRS on your behalf.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov is the fastest way to check, updating every 24 hours with your current status.
  • You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your 2020 return to use the tool.
  • If your refund status shows "still processing" after six months, contact the IRS by phone or mail because something may have delayed it.
  • Refunds issued by check take two to three weeks to arrive by mail after the IRS approves them; direct deposit is faster at three to five business days.
  • If your 2020 refund was offset to pay back taxes, child support, or federal student loans, the IRS will show that reason in the tool.

What each refund status message means

The Where's My Refund tool shows one of three main statuses. "Return Received" means the IRS has your return but has not started processing it yet. This is normal in the first week or two after filing. "Still Processing" means the IRS is reviewing your return and has not finished. Most returns move through this stage in 21 days, but some take longer if the IRS needs to verify information or if there are errors on the form.

"Approved" means the IRS has finished reviewing your return and your refund is on the way. The tool will then show you the date the refund will be sent and the method — direct deposit or check. If you chose direct deposit, the money usually arrives in your bank account within three to five business days after approval. If you chose a check, allow two to three weeks for it to arrive by mail.

If the tool shows "Refund Sent" but you have not received the money, check your bank account to confirm the deposit went through. If you filed for direct deposit and the money never arrived, contact your bank to see if there was a problem with the account number or routing number you provided.

When your refund is delayed or held

If the tool still shows "Still Processing" after six months, your return may have been flagged for review. The IRS sometimes holds refunds to verify income, dependents, or credits claimed. You can call 1-800-829-1954 to ask why your return is delayed. Have your Social Security number and a copy of your return ready.

Your refund may also be offset — meaning the IRS sent the money to pay back taxes you owe, child support arrears, federal student loan debt, or other federal debts. The Where's My Refund tool will tell you if this happened and which debt was paid. If you believe the offset was wrong, you can file a claim with the IRS, but this process takes several months.

If you filed your 2020 return late (after the April deadline), processing takes longer because the IRS handles late returns in batches. If you filed an amended return (Form 1040-X), that also adds time — amended returns typically take 16 weeks to process.

Direct deposit versus check delivery

The method you chose on your 2020 return determines how fast you get your money. Direct deposit is faster: once the IRS approves your refund, the money goes into your bank account in three to five business days. You need to have provided a valid bank account number and routing number on your return for this to work.

A check takes longer because the IRS prints it, mails it, and it travels through the postal system. After the IRS approves your refund, allow two to three weeks for the check to arrive. If you live outside the United States, checks take longer — sometimes four to six weeks.

If you chose direct deposit but the money never arrived and your bank says they did not receive it, contact the IRS to verify the account information on file. If the account number was wrong, the IRS may have sent the refund back and issued a check instead, which takes additional time.

What to do if your refund is missing or never arrived

If the Where's My Refund tool shows your refund was sent but you have not received it, first check your bank account to confirm the deposit did not go through. If you chose direct deposit, wait at least five business days after the approval date before assuming there is a problem. Banks sometimes process deposits slowly.

If you chose a check and it has been more than three weeks since approval, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1954. They can check whether the check was cashed or if it was lost in the mail. If the check was lost, the IRS can issue a replacement, but this takes an additional four to six weeks.

If you filed your 2020 return through a tax preparer and they took a fee from your refund, that fee comes out before the refund is sent to you. If you did not authorize this, contact the preparer first to ask them to refund the fee. If they refuse, you can file a complaint with your state's tax board or the IRS.

How to find your 2020 refund amount if you lost your return

If you do not remember the exact refund amount from your 2020 return, you can request a transcript from the IRS. A Tax Return Transcript shows the information from your actual filed return, including the refund amount. You can order this for free at irs.gov/transcripts or by calling 1-800-908-9946. The transcript arrives by mail in about two weeks, or you can view it online immediately if you create an IRS account.

Once you have the refund amount, you can use it to check your status in Where's My Refund. If you still cannot find the amount and need to check your status urgently, call the IRS hotline — a representative can look up your return and tell you the refund amount and current status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my 2020 refund status if I filed an amended return?

Yes, but the amended return is processed separately from your original return. Where's My Refund tracks your original 2020 return. If you filed Form 1040-X (amended return), the IRS processes it in a different queue and it takes about 16 weeks. You can call 1-800-829-1954 to check the status of your amended return specifically.

What if Where's My Refund says my refund was sent but my bank says they never got it?

Contact your bank first to confirm the deposit was not delayed or sent to a different account. If your bank has no record of it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 with your Social Security number and the refund amount. They can verify whether the direct deposit was sent and to which account, and can reissue the refund if there was an error.

How long does it take to get a refund check if I never received the first one?

A replacement check takes four to six weeks to arrive after the IRS issues it. The IRS will not issue a replacement until you confirm the original check was lost — they may ask you to wait 60 days from the original approval date before issuing a new one. Call 1-800-829-1954 to start the replacement process.

Can I check my 2020 refund if I filed my return in 2021?

Yes. Where's My Refund works for any return filed in the past three years. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount. If your return is older than three years and you need to know the status, contact the IRS directly or request a transcript.

What does it mean if Where's My Refund says my refund was offset?

An offset means the IRS sent your refund to pay a debt — usually back taxes, child support, federal student loans, or state income tax debt. The tool will show which debt was paid. If you believe the offset was wrong, you can file a claim with the IRS, but this process takes several months and requires documentation that the debt was paid or is not yours.