How to learn about your refund is split or delayed

The IRS does not always send your entire refund at once. If you are waiting for the rest of your money, the first step is to check the actual status of your refund using the IRS Where's My Refund tool at irs.gov, which updates every 24 hours. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return.

When you check, you will see one of three messages: "Your refund has been approved" with a specific deposit date, "Your refund is still being processed" with an estimated date, or "We received your return but need more information." If you see the third message, the IRS is holding your refund until you respond — this is the most common reason for a split or delayed payment.

Some refunds arrive in multiple deposits by design. The IRS may split a refund if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). These credits are processed on a different schedule than the rest of your return, so you might receive part of your refund in late February and the remainder in early March, or even later depending on the year.

Key Takeaways

  • Check Where's My Refund on irs.gov to see whether your refund is approved, still processing, or held for verification — this is the only official source for your actual status.
  • If the IRS needs more information, you will see a message telling you what documents to send; ignoring this stops your refund from moving forward.
  • Refunds claimed under EITC or ACTC are held until mid-February by law and may arrive in separate payments weeks apart.
  • If your refund was approved but the money never arrived, contact your bank first to confirm the deposit was not rejected, then call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Why the IRS is holding your refund for verification

The most common reason your refund is delayed is that the IRS flagged something on your return that does not match their records. This happens when you claim a dependent the IRS does not have on file, report self-employment income that differs from what a business reported to them, or claim a credit like the EITC that requires extra proof.

When this occurs, the IRS sends you a notice in the mail — usually a CP05H or similar form — asking you to send documents. The notice tells you exactly what they need: a copy of your birth certificate for a dependent, a Schedule C and bank statements for self-employment income, or proof of residency for a child tax credit. You have 30 days from the date on the notice to respond by mail or through your IRS online account.

Do not ignore this notice. If you do not respond within 30 days, the IRS will disallow the item you claimed and send you a smaller refund — or no refund at all if the disallowed item was large. If you respond, processing typically takes another 4 to 6 weeks after the IRS receives your documents.

Refunds split because of EITC or ACTC claims

If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, federal law requires the IRS to hold your entire refund until February 15 at the earliest. This is called the EITC/ACTC hold period, and it applies every year regardless of whether you have claimed these credits before.

After February 15, the IRS releases your refund in stages. You might receive the portion tied to EITC or ACTC first, then the rest of your refund a week or two later. Or the IRS might send everything at once. The timing depends on how your return was processed and whether any part of it triggered additional review.

If you filed early in January and claimed EITC or ACTC, expect your refund to arrive no earlier than mid-February. If you filed in February or later, add 21 days to your filing date, then add another 5 to 10 days for the bank to process the deposit.

What to do if your refund was approved but never arrived

If Where's My Refund shows your refund was approved and a deposit date has passed, the money may be stuck at your bank, not with the IRS. Call your bank's customer service line and ask whether the IRS deposit was received and posted to your account. If it was rejected, ask why — common reasons include a closed account, a name mismatch, or a routing number error on your tax return.

If your bank says they never received the deposit, or if the deposit was rejected, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. The IRS can issue a replacement check or arrange a new electronic deposit, but this process takes another 4 to 6 weeks.

If you provided a routing number or account number that was incorrect on your return, the IRS cannot correct it after filing. You will have to wait for the rejected deposit to be returned to the IRS, then request a check instead. This adds 2 to 3 weeks to the timeline.

State refunds that arrive separately from federal

If you filed a state return as well as a federal return, your state refund follows its own timeline and arrives from a different agency. State refunds typically take 2 to 8 weeks depending on the state, and they are not coordinated with your federal refund.

To check your state refund status, visit your state's tax agency website. Most states have their own refund tracking tool — search "[your state] tax refund status" to find it. Some states mail checks; others deposit directly to your bank account. A few states, like California and New York, can take 8 to 12 weeks if your return was selected for review.

If you claimed a state tax credit like a state EITC, your state refund may also be held until mid-February or later, similar to the federal hold. Check your state's website for the specific hold dates that apply to your situation.

Amended returns and corrected refunds

If you filed an amended return (Form 1040-X) to correct an error or claim a credit you missed, your refund will be delayed. The IRS processes amended returns separately and more slowly than original returns — expect 16 weeks or longer from the date you filed the amendment.

Where's My Refund does not always show the status of an amended return clearly. If you filed an amendment and are waiting for the corrected refund, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with your Social Security number and the date you mailed or e-filed the amendment. They can tell you whether it has been received and when you should expect the refund.

If you filed the amendment more than 16 weeks ago and have not received the refund, ask the IRS whether they need additional information. Sometimes amended returns are held for verification just like original returns, and you may not receive a notice if your mailing address on file is outdated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my refund faster if I call the IRS?

No. The IRS processes refunds in the order they were received, and calling does not move you up in the queue. The only exception is if the IRS is holding your refund because they need information — in that case, sending the required documents quickly is the fastest way to move forward.

What if I see two different amounts on Where's My Refund?

This usually means part of your refund has been approved and the rest is still being processed. The approved amount will have a deposit date; the remainder will show an estimated date. Both should arrive within a few days of each other, unless one portion is held for verification or EITC/ACTC processing.

Does a tax refund advance or loan affect when I get my real refund?

No. If you took out a refund advance loan from a tax preparer or bank, that loan is separate from your actual IRS refund. The IRS will still send your full refund on its normal timeline. The loan company will deduct their fee from the refund when it arrives, but the timing is not affected.

How long does it take if the IRS says my refund is in the mail?

If the IRS issued a check instead of a direct deposit, allow 7 to 10 business days for the check to arrive by mail. If it does not arrive within that window, contact the IRS to request a replacement check or to have the refund reissued as a direct deposit instead.

Can I cancel my refund and get the money a different way?

Once the IRS has approved your refund and issued a payment, you cannot cancel it. If you provided the wrong bank account for direct deposit, you will have to wait for the rejected deposit to return to the IRS, then request a check. This takes an additional 4 to 6 weeks.