INT stands for interest paid by the IRS on your refund

When you see "INT" printed on your tax refund check, it means the IRS added interest to your refund because the agency took longer than the law allows to send it to you. The interest is calculated from the date your return was due (usually April 15) to the date the IRS issues your refund. You do not have to do anything with this money — it is already included in the total check amount.

The IRS is required by law to pay interest on refunds that are delayed. The interest rate changes quarterly and is set by the Treasury Department. For 2024, the rate has been 8 percent per year for most of the year, though it varies. The IRS calculates interest daily and rounds it to the nearest dollar on your check.

This is separate from your actual tax refund. If your refund was $1,200 and the IRS owed you $15 in interest, your check would be for $1,215 total. The "INT" notation simply tells you that portion came from the interest calculation, not from your tax payment or credits.

Key Takeaways

  • INT on your check means the IRS paid you interest because your refund was delayed beyond the legal timeframe.
  • The interest is already included in your total check amount — you receive one check for both the refund and the interest together.
  • The IRS interest rate changes quarterly and is set by the Treasury Department, not something you can negotiate.
  • You do not owe taxes on the interest the IRS pays you, but you may need to report it on next year's return depending on the amount.

When the IRS owes you interest on a refund

The IRS is supposed to issue refunds within 21 days of receiving your return if you file electronically, or within 6 weeks if you file by mail. If your refund arrives after that window closes, the agency owes you interest on the delayed amount. This is not a penalty or a bonus — it is a legal obligation.

The most common reason for delay is that the IRS is processing a high volume of returns. During tax season (January through April), the IRS receives millions of returns and sometimes falls behind. Other delays happen because your return was selected for review, you filed an amended return, or there was an error on your original filing that required correction.

You do not have to request the interest. The IRS calculates it automatically and includes it on your check. If you are owed interest, you will see the INT notation on the check itself or in your IRS account online.

How to find the interest amount on your refund

The easiest way to see your interest is to look at the check itself. Most refund checks print the breakdown on the back or on a stub attached to the check. You will see a line that says "INT" followed by the dollar amount.

You can also check your IRS account online through IRS.gov. Log in with your username and password, go to "Refunds," and select the year you are looking up. The account will show your refund amount and any interest added. This is the most reliable method because you can see the exact calculation and the date the refund was issued.

If you received a paper notice from the IRS about your refund, it may also list the interest amount. The IRS sends Notice 431 or a similar letter when interest is added to a refund. Keep this notice for your records.

Reporting interest from your tax refund on next year's return

Interest paid by the IRS is considered taxable income in most cases. However, the amount has to meet a threshold before you are required to report it. For the 2024 tax year, you generally do not have to report interest under $1. If the interest is $1 or more, you should report it on your next year's tax return.

Report the interest on Form 1040, Schedule 1, line 8 (Other Income). You do not need a separate form from the IRS — the interest is simply added to your other income for that year. The amount is usually small enough that it does not significantly change your tax bill, but it still needs to be reported for accuracy.

If you are unsure whether your interest amount crosses the reporting threshold, check the notice the IRS sent you or your online account. When in doubt, report it. Reporting a small amount of interest is safer than omitting it.

Why your refund was delayed and what that means for next year

A delayed refund usually signals one of three things: the IRS was processing a backlog, your return needed manual review, or there was an error that had to be corrected. None of these are your fault in most cases. The IRS processes millions of returns, and delays happen even when everything on your return is correct.

If your return was selected for review, the IRS will send you a letter explaining what they are checking. This does not mean you made a mistake — the IRS reviews returns at random and also targets certain types of income or deductions for closer inspection. The review can add weeks or months to your refund timeline.

For next year, you can reduce the chance of delay by filing electronically instead of by mail, using direct deposit instead of a mailed check, and filing as early as possible in the tax season. Electronic filing is processed faster, and direct deposit is the quickest way to receive your money.

What to do if you do not see INT on your check but think you should

If your refund was delayed but you do not see interest listed on your check, check your IRS account online first. Sometimes the interest is recorded in the account but not printed on the physical check. Log in to IRS.gov and review the refund details for that year.

If your account shows no interest and your refund arrived more than 21 days after you filed electronically (or more than 6 weeks after you mailed it), you can contact the IRS to ask about it. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and have your Social Security number and the year in question ready. The IRS can tell you whether interest was calculated and why it may not appear on your check.

In rare cases, the IRS makes an error in calculating interest. If you believe this happened, keep your check and the notice the IRS sent you, and contact the IRS to dispute the amount. You will need documentation of when you filed and when the refund was issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on the interest the IRS paid me?

Yes, if the interest is $1 or more, you report it as income on your next year's tax return on Form 1040, Schedule 1, line 8. The amount is usually small, but it is still taxable income and must be reported.

Can I get interest if my refund was delayed because I filed late?

No. Interest is owed only if the IRS delays a refund beyond the legal timeframe after receiving your return. If you filed after the April 15 deadline, the clock for the IRS's obligation starts from when they receive your return, not from the original due date.

What if my check shows INT but I do not remember my refund being late?

Check your IRS account online to see the date your return was received and the date your refund was issued. If more than 21 days passed between those dates (for electronic filing), the IRS owed you interest. The delay may have happened without you noticing.

Is the interest amount the same for everyone?

No. The interest rate is the same for all taxpayers in a given quarter, but the amount of interest you receive depends on how long your refund was delayed and the size of your refund. A larger refund delayed longer will earn more interest.