IRS Path Act Refund Status 2026: Taxpayers who are planning to claim the Additional Child Tax Credit/ Earned Income Tax Credit in this tax season should know the PATH Act restricts the refunds till-mid February. So, it’s important to know how you can track your PATH Act refund status.
When to check the IRS Path Act Refund status 2026?
The IRS allows taxpayers to track their tax refund status through the fast and easy update tool, Where’s My Refund. The tool is updated overnight every day to offer you a real-time update and show you the status that is recorded in the IRS system.
If you have filed a tax return with the ACTC/EITC claims, you can check the refund status through the same tool. You must be aware of the PATH Act restriction on the EITC/ACTC refunds to stop fraudulent activities. The tool can show you the return and refund status within a day of e-filing the return.
However, it’s not the same case with e-filed returns claiming EITC/ACTC; you will get the status up to Return Accepted, but to have the status about the refund, you might have to wait. According to the IRS, the system will update the EITC/ACTC tax refund status by 21 February 2026.
What do you need to check your IRS PATH Act refund status?
Before you learn how to check your IRS PATH Act refund status through the IRS Refund Tracker tool, you should know what you will need to use the tool:
- The Where’s My Refund tool is available on the IRS official website, the IRS2Go mobile app, or at your individual IRS online account.
- You should have your Social Security Number, refund amount filed in the tax return, your filing status, and the tax year.
How to use the IRS Refund tool to check PATH Act refund status?
You can use the IRS refund tracker tool to track your PATH Act refund status in the following way:
- Visit the IRS official website, the IRS2Go mobile app, or your individual online account.
- Now, click the Refund Status section and click the “Check Your Refund” section.
- Next, you should enter your SSN, tax year, refund amount, and select the filing status on the tool page.
- After you click the submit button, your IRS PATH Act refund status will appear on your screen. The tool will only show the refund status in three phrases: Return Accepted, Refund Approved, and Refund Sent.
When can you expect your 2026 IRS PATH Act Refund?
The PATH Act refund will be processed after mid-February 2026 for the early filers. The IRS has changed refund processing; they have stopped paper check refunds as per the executive order from the federal government. So, the PATH Act refund will be processed through direct deposit, debit card, or other electronic method.
Direct deposit is the fastest; hence, after the PATH Act restriction is lifted, you can expect the direct deposit to be processed within 3 weeks. The IRS says the ACTC/EITC claimants can expect the refund by 03 March 2026. However, some people can expect the refund earlier due to the financial institution and filing a return early.
The PATH Act refund for the taxpayers who filed before mid-February 2026 would be processed by March 2026; the later refund will be processed normally. If your refund status shows that your refund has been sent, you can expect the refund in your bank or debit card within 4 to 5 business days.
What if your IRS PATH Refund is delayed?
If your PATH Act refund is not processed even after the refund tool shows that your refund is sent, you should take immediate action. Generally, your refund can get delayed when the bank account information is not right, your tax return has some missing information, or due to some other reasons.
So, if you experience any delay in your PATH Act refund, you should immediately take action to resolve the issue:
- First, check the IRS Where’s My Refund tool and see your tax refund status to know about its processing stage.
- Next, you should check with your bank to see if there was any refund payment that is not reflected in the account yet, or if the bank has declined any such payment.
- You should reach out to the IRS through the refund inquiry number 800-829-1954 or to speak with an IRS officer, you can call at 800-829-1040 during the operational hours.
- If you can’t contact through telephone, you can visit the nearest IRS office and ask for assistance from the IRS officials about your missing refund.
- You can also file Form 3911 to initiate the refund tracing if you do not receive the refund within 5 days of the status showing the refund is sent.
IRS PATH Act refund will come a little later due to the restriction that the law brings; keep an eye on the refund status to estimate your refund payment date.