Many taxpayers eagerly await the arrival of their tax refunds. Many people rely on tax refunds to help with their expenses.
If you are waiting for your tax refund, you might want to read our article on how long it takes to receive your refund.
If it’s been more than 21 days since you filed, how can you track your tax refund?
This article will explore the options for following the status of your refund, and what you need in order to do so.
How To Track My Tax Refund
There are some simple ways in which you can track your tax refunds. According to usa.gov, first check your federal tax refund status.
To do so, make sure that you filed your federal taxes. Assuming that you have then you’ll be able to track its status. Check the status of your federal tax refund by searching the Internal Revenue Service or the IRS’ “Where’s My Refund” tool or by using the Get Refund Status tool here.
What Information do I Need to Track my Refund Online?
Before you can track your tax refund or to learn its status, you will need to provide the following information on the tracker tool:
- Your social security number
- Your filing status
- The exact amount that is shown on your tax return
Other Options for Tracking My Refund
Another option is to try using the IRS2Go mobile app. This will allow you to check the status of your tax refund on your phone. This is the suggested way to track your tax refund since it is the fastest and easiest process. Additionally, this provides automatic updates every 24 hours.
You can also try calling the IRS to know the status of your tax refund. However, as of this moment, the IRS live phone assistance is extremely limited.
You may also have to wait a very long time to speak to an IRS representative. However, you can avoid the wait by using the automated phone system.
You can also try checking your emails as well as status updates from your e-filing website or software website. For example, you can try using TurboTax or HRBlock depending on who you filed with.
Both sites state that your e-file status is not the same as your refund status. Even after the IRS accepts your tax return they will need to approve it. Only after its approval can it be sent to you. However, you can track both your e-file status and your refund status on Turbo Tax or HR Block.
Tracking State Tax Refunds
If you’re wanting to track a state return, pretty much every state has a tool on their website to help you track things. You can find a link to your state’s site by clicking on the name of your state in this article.
How Long Do Tax Refunds Take?
As mentioned in the beginning of this article, the typical wait time for tax returns is 21 days from the day you file your taxes. In most cases, your tax refund will arrive within 21 days of filing your taxes.
Note that weekends are included in those 21 days.
One of the most common reasons why tax returns take longer to arrive than expected is because you made a mistake when filing your taxes. It is also possible that you left your personal information incomplete upon filing.
On some occasions, such as the two scenarios described above, your tax returns may have to get put through a second review of your filing. In the worst-case scenario, identity theft or fraud may compromise your tax submission.
We hope that this article helped inform you on ways to track your tax refunds, and why your refund may be delayed.
