Call the IRS if you filed federal taxes; call your state tax agency if you filed state taxes

The IRS handles federal refunds. Your state's department of revenue or taxation handles state refunds. These are separate systems with separate phone lines, separate tracking, and separate timelines. If you filed both, you may need to call both places to find out where your money is.

The IRS phone number is 1-800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return ready when you call. Wait times are longest in March and April. If you filed electronically, the IRS can usually tell you the status of a federal refund within 24 hours of receiving your return.

Your state tax agency's number depends on which state you live in. Search "[your state] tax refund phone number" or go to your state's official tax website. State refunds typically take longer than federal refunds — often four to eight weeks after the IRS processes your federal return.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS processes federal refunds at 1-800-829-1040; your state tax agency processes state refunds at a number you can find on your state's official tax website.
  • Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount from your return ready before you call.
  • The IRS can usually tell you the status of a federal refund within 24 hours of receiving your return if you filed electronically.
  • State refunds typically take four to eight weeks longer than federal refunds, even after the IRS has processed your federal return.
  • If you filed an amended return or claimed certain credits, your refund may take longer and you may need to call back multiple times.

What information you need before you call

Have your Social Security number ready — the IRS will not discuss your refund without it. You will also need your filing status (single, married filing jointly, head of household, and so on) and the exact refund amount you claimed on your return. If you do not have your return in front of you, you can look up the amount on your IRS account at irs.gov under "View Your Tax Account."

If you filed jointly with a spouse, only the primary taxpayer (the person whose name appears first on the return) can call and get refund information. The IRS will not release details to the second spouse without written authorization.

How to check your refund status online instead

The IRS offers a tool called Where's My Refund? at irs.gov that updates every 24 hours if you filed electronically. You do not need to call — you can check the status yourself anytime. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount. The tool will tell you whether the IRS has received your return, is processing it, or has approved it for payment.

For state refunds, go to your state tax agency's website and look for a refund tracker or status tool. Most states offer this online. State trackers update less frequently than the IRS tool — usually once or twice a week — but they save you a phone call.

If the online tool says your refund is approved but you have not received it yet, the money is in transit. Federal refunds by direct deposit usually arrive within five to seven business days after approval. Paper checks take two to three weeks.

When to call instead of checking online

Call the IRS if the online tool has not updated in more than 24 hours, if it shows an error code, or if your refund was supposed to arrive but did not. Also call if you filed an amended return (Form 1040-X), claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit, or claimed the Additional Child Tax Credit — these refunds process separately and take longer.

Call your state tax agency if you filed state taxes and the state tracker shows no status, or if your state refund was supposed to arrive more than eight weeks after you filed and it has not shown up. Some states hold refunds if they detect a mismatch between your return and other records — the agency can tell you whether that is happening and what to do.

What to do if the IRS or state says your refund was sent but you never got it

If the IRS says your refund was approved and sent by direct deposit but the money never arrived in your bank account, call your bank first. Ask whether the deposit was received and rejected, or whether it never arrived at all. Banks sometimes reject IRS deposits if the account number on your return does not match the account number on file.

If your bank says the deposit never arrived, call the IRS back and ask them to issue a trace. The IRS will investigate where the money went and may reissue the refund by check. This process takes four to six weeks.

If the IRS says your refund was sent by check but you never received it, call the IRS and ask them to issue a replacement check. You will need to wait 21 days after the original issue date before the IRS will reissue. If the check was lost in the mail, the replacement usually arrives within two weeks.

State-specific refund numbers and websites

Rather than listing every state separately, use this approach: search "[your state name] department of revenue tax refund status" or "[your state name] tax refund phone number." The official state website will appear first. Avoid third-party tax websites that claim to help you track your refund — they cannot access your actual refund data and will only redirect you to the IRS or your state anyway.

If you cannot find your state's number, call your state's main revenue department line and ask to be transferred to the refund status line. State phone lines are usually less busy than the IRS line, and wait times are often under 15 minutes.

What happens if you filed jointly and need to call about your spouse's portion

Only the primary taxpayer (the person listed first on the return) can call and get refund information. If you are the secondary taxpayer and need information about a joint refund, ask the primary taxpayer to call on your behalf or to authorize you in writing to call.

If the primary taxpayer is unavailable or you are separated or divorced, you may need to provide the IRS with a power of attorney form (Form 2848) or a court order. Call the IRS and ask what documentation they need before they will discuss the refund with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call the IRS on weekends or evenings?

The IRS phone line 1-800-829-1040 is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. It is closed on weekends and federal holidays. Call early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the longest wait times. March and April are the busiest months.

What if I filed my return more than 21 days ago and the IRS still shows no status?

Call the IRS. If your return has not been received or processed after 21 days, there may be an error with your filing or your address on file. The IRS can tell you whether they received it and what to do next. Bring a copy of your return and your filing confirmation number if you have it.

Do I need to pay to call the IRS about my refund?

No. The IRS phone line is free. Do not use third-party services that charge a fee to help you track your refund — they cannot access your information and will only cost you money.

Can I call about someone else's refund?

Only if you are listed as the primary taxpayer on the return or if you have written authorization from the primary taxpayer. The IRS will not release refund information to anyone else, even a spouse or family member.

What if I think my refund was stolen or fraudulently filed?

Call the IRS immediately at 1-800-829-1040 and tell them you suspect identity theft or fraud. The IRS has a dedicated fraud line and can freeze your account while they investigate. Also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportidentitytheft.ftc.gov.