The IRS is now accepting tax returns for the 2025 tax year, and they will be processing refunds via direct deposit or through electronic payment. The IRS processes the refund on time, but if it is delayed for some reason, you must know what to do.
What if you do not get an IRS refund in 21 days?
The IRS processed tax refunds via direct deposit within 21 days of e-filing if there are no issues with your return. This year, paper check refunds are being phased out, and everyone was urged to provide bank account information on their tax returns.
The IRS processes the refund on time, but if you experience a delay in receiving your tax refund, even after 21 days after e-filing, you should take action and reach out to the IRS in the following ways:
- You should check the refund status on the IRS tool, Where’s My Refund, and if you don’t find any information, you can file the IRS Form 3911 to initiate a refund trace when your refund has not arrived as per the scheduled date. The Form will let you know about your tax refund, and the IRS will know the trouble with your refund.
- You can call the IRS at the refund hotline number at 800-829-1040 (800-829-4059 for the hearing impaired) and ask about the tax refund delay reason, and assist you in getting your missing refund.
- You can also visit your nearby IRS office and ask for assistance from the officials in helping you with your missing tax refund.
What can delay your IRS tax refund?
The IRS strives to provide your tax refund faster through direct deposit, but if you experience delays in your refund, you should know the reasons, such as:
- Your tax return has some errors or incomplete information that creates an issue in review, or the IRS needs more information or requests you to send the missing documents, leading to a delay of the refund.
- The refund amount entered in the return is miscalculated, or the credit you have claimed needs correction, causing the review time to increase.
- The bank account is not valid or active, leading to the rejection of your tax refund, and since the IRS does not process paper check refunds, they may wait until you provide bank account information or other information to process the refund.
- Your bank or financial institution is taking time to process your refund into your account.
- You have claimed the EITC/ACTC with your return, which holds your return till mid-February 2026, so you can expect the refund to be processed by 03 March 2026.
- You have some tax balance or debt that you owe to the IRS or federal government, and your refund will be used to recover it, though the IRS will notify you before using your refund.
How to check your IRS tax refund status?
The IRS refund status tool, Where’s My Refund, allows you to track your refund and know at what stage the refund is, and also provides you with the estimated date of the refund payout. Hence, when you wonder about your tax refund, the first step should be to check its status on the tool.
You can check the refund status on the tool within a day of e-filing your tax return. You will just need your Social Security number, tax year, refund amount, and filing status. You can track your refund status in the following steps:
- Go to the IRS mobile app IRS2Go, official website, or your individual tax account.
- Next, go to the Refund status section and click the Check Your Refund tab to land on the Where’s My Refund tool page.
- Now, enter your SSN, refund amount, tax year, and select filing status, and submit all the information.
- Next, your IRS tax refund will show up on your screen in any of three stages: Return received, refund approved, and refund sent. If it says refund sent, expect your refund process to your bank account in 4 to 5 working days.
How can you ensure that your refund will be deposited correctly?
As we mentioned earlier, this tax season, the agency is urging people to go for the direct deposit, as paper check refunds are being phased out. To ensure you do not miss out on your refund, you should keep the following things in mind:
- You should check with your bank or financial institution if they will accept the direct deposit in your type of accounts, as some accounts do not accept the direct deposit.
- You must ensure the account number and routing number you are entering on your tax return are correct.
- You should always check your return for any miscalculation, missing information, or credit claims before filing your tax return.
The 2026 tax season has begun, and if you are expecting a tax refund, you should regularly check its status to avoid any issues and take action if it is late.