Some individuals are so impatient to receive their tax refund that they can’t wait to track its status online. Unfortunately, the IRS and most states don’t have a real-time system that allows taxpayers to see the status of their refunds as they’re being processed. This leaves many people frustrated and anxious as they wait for their refund to arrive.
The IRS issues most refunds within 21 days after receiving your tax return. However, because the IRS processes millions of rescues each year, it’s not always possible to issue refunds within that time frame. It may take longer for your refund to be processed in some cases.
There are several ways to track the status of your federal tax refund:
– Go to the IRS website and use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool. You’ll need to enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact amount of your refund.
– Alternatively, if you’re using a mobile device, you can download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status.
– Call the IRS Refund Hotline at 1-800-829-1954. Note that you may have to wait on hold for a long time.
– Check the IRS processing schedule to see when your state is scheduled to issue refunds.
If you’re wondering how to track the status of your state tax refund, the process is a little different. Each state has its system, and not all states offer real-time tracking. However, most states provide some way to check the status of your refund.
Here are a few ways to track your state tax refund:
– Go to your state’s revenue department website and look for a refund status page.
– Call the revenue department’s refund hotline.
– Check the processing schedule of your state to see when refunds are scheduled to be issued.
It’s important to remember that the IRS and state tax refund schedules can change. So if you don’t see your refund listed on the schedule, it doesn’t mean that it’s been delayed, and it could just indicate that the schedule has not been updated yet.
Where’s My Refund? will display the status of your refund, usually on the most recent tax year refund they have on file for you.
- 24 hours after e-filing
- Four weeks after you mailed your return
- Updates are made daily, usually overnight
When Should You Call the IRS?
The IRS says taxpayers should call them if:
- It’s been 21 days or more since you e-filed
- Where’s My Refund tells you to contact the IRS
The IRS will also contact you by mail if they need more information to process your return.
Why Do Some Tax Returns Take So Long?
Some tax returns take longer to process than others, including when a return:
- It needs a correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount
- Is incomplete
- Is affected by identity theft or fraud
- Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit using 2019 income.
- Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
- Needs further review in general
The best way to ensure that you will get your tax refund on time is to submit error-free tax documents. This way, when the IRS reviews your return, they won’t have any questions and will be able to process your refund quickly. If you make a mistake on your return, the sooner you catch it and correct it, the better.
If you have any questions about your tax return, it’s best to consult tax professionals like The Oasis Firm. We can help you track the status of your refund and make sure that everything is in order.