Where Is My 2024 Federal Tax Refund?

Once your refund has been sent, it still might take up to five days before it shows up in your bank account, or several more weeks for a paper check to find its way to your mailbox.

If you file an amended return for a prior year, you can track that return using the “Where’s My Amended Return?” tool on the IRS website. It can take up to 16 weeks for the IRS to process an amended return.

What about the status of your state tax? OnLine Taxes, an IRS-authorized electronic filing service, has compiled of a list of state tax office links.

You can deposit your refund into multiple accounts

You can split your refund among up to three accounts. The IRS allows you to select from these types:

• Checking account
• Savings account
• Individual retirement account (including a SEP IRA)
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Archer medical savings account
• Coverdell education savings account

Alternatively, you might be able to have all or part of your tax refund deposited to a prepaid debit card or mobile payment app. Check with your financial institution or app provider to see if this is possible and to get the correct routing and account numbers.

You can use your tax software to split your refund electronically or use IRS Form 8888 if you file a paper return.

If you want the IRS to deposit your refund into a single account, use the direct deposit line on your tax form.

Common reasons for tax refund delays

If your refund seems long in coming, it's most likely because you filed a return that was incomplete or has an error. The IRS will notify you by mail if it needs more information to process your return. (The IRS will not call you about a routine tax problem. Be suspicious of any unsolicited phone contact purporting to be from the agency: Scammers love to pretend they are calling from the IRS.)

Here are some other issues that could be delaying your refund:

Tax identity theft. This is when a scammer who has gotten hold of your personal information files a false claim in your name. If you get an IRS notice by mail stating your return was rejected because someone already filed a return using your Social Security number, respond immediately. Do the same if you get a message about fraud from the “Where’s My Refund?” system. You may have to fill out an IRS identity theft affidavit (Form 14039).

One way to foil tax-related identity theft before it happens is to sign up for an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN). Only you and the IRS will know this six-digit number, which you’ll include on your tax return. If a return in your name is filed without it, the IRS will know something is up. In that case, the IRS will reject the return (if e-filed) or delay processing the return until it can be verified (if mailed in). You can sign up for an IP PIN on the IRS website.

Refund offsets. The IRS may hold up, reduce or even wipe out your refund if you owe past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support or other federal nontax debts, such as student loans. You’ll get a notice in the mail about the changes. If the IRS takes all or part of your tax refund to cover debt owed by a spouse, you can request “injured spouse relief.” But be patient — it can take eight weeks or more for the IRS to process the request.

Claiming certain tax credits. Your refund might be delayed if you qualify for the earned income tax credit (EITC) or the additional child tax credit (ACTC), both of which are aimed at low- and moderate-income filers. The IRS can’t issue EITC or ACTC refunds before mid-February. The agency says most of these refunds will be in bank accounts by March 3 for people who file electronically, choose direct deposit and don’t have any other issues with their return.

Need help with your tax return? Try AARP's tax calculator, or visit AARP Foundation Tax-Aide to learn about free tax prep services offered by 30,000 volunteers nationwide.