Email started in 1971, and the first message went between two computers sitting next to each other
The first email was sent on October 29, 1971, by Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer working on a project called ARPANET—the network that became the internet. He sent a message from one computer to another in the same room at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, a research company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The message itself was forgettable—something like "QWERTYUIOP"—but the act of sending it across a network changed everything.
Tomlinson also invented the @ symbol convention for email addresses, which is why your email still looks like yourname@domain.com today. Before that moment, there was no standard way to address a message to someone on a different computer. He chose the @ symbol because it was rarely used in names and would be easy to parse with a computer program.
For the first decade, email stayed inside research networks and universities. It did not reach regular people until the 1980s and 1990s, when commercial internet providers like AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy brought it to homes. Gmail, the free email service from Google, did not launch until 2004—33 years after that first message.
Key Takeaways
- Email was created in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson, who sent the first message between two computers on ARPANET, the predecessor to the internet.
- Tomlinson invented the @ symbol for email addresses because it was uncommon in names and worked well for computer systems to parse.
- Email remained confined to research institutions and universities until the 1980s, when commercial internet providers brought it to the general public.
- Modern email services like Gmail (2004) and Outlook came decades after email's invention, but they made email accessible to billions of people worldwide.
How email became the standard for refunds and payments
Once email became widespread in the 1990s, government agencies and businesses started using it to notify people about refunds, tax status, and payment confirmations. The IRS began sending email notifications about tax refunds in the early 2000s. Insurance companies followed, using email to confirm claims and send refund details. Today, most refund notifications arrive by email first, before any physical check or direct deposit hits your account.
Email is fast and cheap for organizations to send at scale, which is why it became the default. A government agency or business can send millions of refund notifications in seconds. The downside is that email is also easy to fake—phishing scams that look like refund notifications have become common. This is why you should never click a link in an email claiming to be from the IRS or your bank without first going directly to their official website.
Why refund tracking relies on email today
When you file taxes, request an insurance refund, or return something to a business, the organization usually sends you an email confirmation with a reference number or tracking link. That email is your proof that the request was received. If you lose it, you can often log into your account on their website and find the same information, but the email is the first notification most people get.
The IRS uses email to tell you when your tax refund has been processed and when it will arrive. Insurance companies email you when they approve a refund claim. Retailers email you a return label and tracking number. In each case, the email is not the refund itself—it is the notification that the refund is on its way. The actual money comes through direct deposit, a check in the mail, or a credit to your original payment method.
The difference between email notification and actual refund delivery
An email saying your refund has been approved does not mean the money is in your account yet. There is always a gap between the notification and the actual deposit or check arrival. For tax refunds, the IRS typically sends an email saying your return was accepted, then another email weeks later saying the refund was issued. The money itself may take another week to appear in your bank account if it is direct deposited, or two to three weeks if it is coming by mail.
Insurance refunds work similarly. You get an email confirming the claim was approved, but the check or bank transfer takes additional time to process. Retail refunds may show up as a credit to your original payment method within days of the email notification, but some take longer depending on your bank or credit card company.
How to keep track of refund emails
Create a folder in your email for refund notifications and move each one there as it arrives. Include emails from the IRS, your state tax authority, insurance companies, and retailers. Keep these emails until the refund actually appears in your account and you have verified the amount is correct. If something goes wrong—the refund does not arrive, or the amount is wrong—you will have the original notification with the reference number and date.
If you cannot find an email you know you received, check your spam or junk folder. Refund notifications sometimes get filtered there by mistake. You can also log into your account on the organization's website and look for the same information. The IRS has a tool called "Where's My Refund?" on its website that shows the status of your tax refund without needing the original email.
What to do if you never received a refund email
If you submitted a refund request but never got an email confirmation, log into your account on the organization's website and check the status there. Most government agencies and major businesses let you track refunds through their online portals without needing an email. If you cannot find any record, contact the organization directly—call their customer service line or use their online chat—and provide the date you submitted the request and any reference numbers you have.
For tax refunds, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov. For insurance refunds, call your insurance company's customer service number. For retail refunds, contact the retailer's support team. In each case, have your account number, the date of the original request, and any confirmation numbers ready.
Email security when dealing with refund notifications
Scammers send fake refund emails that look like they come from the IRS, your bank, or a retailer. These emails often ask you to click a link, log in, or provide personal information. Real refund notifications from government agencies and legitimate businesses never ask you to click a link to verify information or provide passwords. If you get an email claiming to be from the IRS about a refund, do not click any links in the email. Instead, go directly to IRS.gov in your browser and log into your account there.
The same rule applies to emails from your bank, insurance company, or any retailer. If you are unsure whether an email is real, call the organization using the phone number on your account statement or their official website—not a number in the email. Legitimate organizations understand that people are cautious about clicking links in emails, and they will not penalize you for verifying through a phone call or by logging in directly to their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my refund email say "issued" but the money is not in my account yet?
Issued means the organization has processed the refund and sent it out, but it has not reached your bank yet. For direct deposits, this usually takes three to five business days. For checks, it can take two to three weeks depending on mail delivery. The email notification comes before the money arrives, not at the same time.
Can I get a refund without an email confirmation?
Yes. If you submitted a refund request but did not receive a confirmation email, you can still track it through the organization's website or by calling them. The email is a notification, not proof that the refund exists. Your account record on their system is what matters.
Is it safe to click links in refund emails?
No. Scammers create fake refund emails with links that steal your information. If you receive an email about a refund, do not click any links. Instead, go directly to the organization's official website by typing the address into your browser, or call their customer service number from your account statement.
What should I do if I delete a refund email by accident?
Log into your account on the organization's website and look for the refund status there. Most government agencies and businesses keep a record of refunds in your online account. If you need the reference number or confirmation details, you can usually find them by logging in, even if you no longer have the email.
How long should I keep refund emails?
Keep them until the refund appears in your account and you have verified the amount is correct. After that, you can delete them, though there is no harm in keeping them longer. If a problem comes up later—the refund amount was wrong, or it never arrived—the email with the reference number will help you resolve it.