Where to check the status of a 2017 refund

The IRS stopped accepting 2017 tax returns in 2018, so if you filed that year and haven't received your refund, it either arrived years ago or was never processed. Start by checking the IRS's Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov — enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool will show you one of four statuses: refund approved, refund sent, refund delayed, or no record of your return.

If the tool shows no record of your return, your return was either never filed or never received. If it shows your refund was sent, the IRS has a record of mailing it — but that doesn't mean it arrived. If it shows delayed, your return is still in the IRS queue, which is unusual for a 2017 return and usually means the IRS flagged something that needs manual review.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS Where's My Refund tool is the only official source for refund status and will tell you whether the IRS sent your money, still has it, or has no record of your return.
  • A 2017 refund that shows as sent but never arrived may have been mailed to an old address, intercepted by a bank debt offset, or lost in the mail.
  • If the IRS has no record of your 2017 return, you will need to file an amended return or contact the IRS directly to determine whether it was received.
  • The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service can investigate a missing 2017 refund at no cost if you have already tried the Where's My Refund tool and gotten no resolution.

What to do if Where's My Refund shows your refund was sent

If the tool says your refund was sent but you never received it, the money left the IRS but did not reach your bank or mailbox. Check the mailing address on your 2017 return — if you've moved since then, the check may have gone to an old address. Contact the post office for that address and ask whether mail forwarding is still active, or request a search for the check.

If the address was correct, your refund may have been intercepted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's offset program. This happens when you owe federal student loans, child support, or back taxes — the IRS sends your refund to that agency instead of to you. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask whether your 2017 refund was offset. If it was, the agency holding the money can tell you the balance owed and your options for payment or dispute.

If the address was correct and there was no offset, the check may have been lost in the mail. The IRS can issue a replacement check, but you will need to request it. Call 800-829-1040 with your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS will mail a new check, which typically arrives within two to three weeks.

What to do if Where's My Refund shows no record of your return

If the tool says the IRS has no record of your 2017 return, either you did not file or the return was lost before it reached the IRS. If you filed by mail, the return may not have been received or may have been damaged in transit. If you filed electronically, a technical error or incorrect Social Security number could have caused the return to be rejected without your knowledge.

Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and provide your Social Security number and filing status. The IRS can search their records to confirm whether your 2017 return was ever received. If it was not, you will need to file a 2017 return now, even though the year has passed. Use Form 1040-X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) and mark it as a late original return. Mail it to the IRS address for your state, which you can find on the IRS website.

Filing a late return for 2017 will not result in a penalty for filing late, because the statute of limitations for claiming a refund is three years from the filing deadline. However, if you owe taxes instead of receiving a refund, penalties and interest will apply from the original due date. The IRS will process your return and send you a refund or bill within 6 to 12 weeks.

What to do if Where's My Refund shows your refund is delayed

If the tool says your refund is delayed, the IRS received your 2017 return but has not yet processed it or has flagged it for manual review. This is rare for a return filed in 2017, because the IRS processes most returns within 21 days of receipt. A delayed status usually means the IRS needs more information from you — for example, if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or if there was a discrepancy between your return and IRS records.

Check the mail for a letter from the IRS. The letter will explain what information is needed and how to provide it. If you haven't received a letter, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask what is holding up your 2017 return. Have your Social Security number and filing status ready. The IRS can tell you whether they need additional documents and how to submit them.

Using the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for a missing 2017 refund

If you have checked Where's My Refund, called the IRS, and still have no resolution after 30 days, you can request help from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. This is a free office within the IRS that investigates problems when normal channels don't work. You can reach them by calling 877-777-4778 or by visiting taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service will open a case and contact the IRS on your behalf to find out what happened to your 2017 refund. They can also request that the IRS expedite processing if your return is still in the queue. There is no cost for this service, and you do not need to hire a tax professional to use it.

Refunds sent by check versus direct deposit

The method the IRS used to send your 2017 refund depends on how you filed your return. If you filed electronically and provided banking information, the IRS sent the refund by direct deposit, which typically arrives within 21 days of processing. If you filed by mail or did not provide banking information, the IRS mailed a paper check, which can take four to six weeks to arrive.

If your refund was sent by direct deposit but never appeared in your account, contact your bank and ask whether the deposit was rejected. Banks reject direct deposits if the account number or routing number on the return was incorrect, or if the account was closed. Your bank can tell you whether the IRS attempted the deposit and what happened. If the deposit was rejected, call the IRS and provide corrected banking information so they can reissue the refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get my 2017 refund if it's been more than three years?

No. The IRS can only issue a refund for a return filed within three years of the filing deadline. For 2017 returns, the deadline to claim a refund was April 15, 2020. If you did not file or did not receive your refund by that date, you cannot recover it.

What if I filed my 2017 return but the IRS says they have no record of it?

Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and ask them to search their records. If they confirm the return was never received, you will need to file a new 2017 return using Form 1040-X marked as a late original return. Mail it to the IRS address for your state.

Will I owe penalties if I file my 2017 return now?

You will not owe a penalty for filing late if you are owed a refund. If you owe taxes, penalties and interest will apply from the original due date of April 15, 2018. The IRS will calculate the exact amount when they process your return.

How long does it take to get a replacement check for a lost 2017 refund?

The IRS typically mails a replacement check within two to three weeks of your request. Call 800-829-1040 with your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount to request one.

What if my 2017 refund was offset for child support or student loans?

Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and ask which agency received your offset. That agency can tell you the balance owed and whether you can dispute the offset or set up a payment plan.