Where’s My Refund - FAQs
How quickly will I get my refund?
The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 calendar days.
I’m counting on my refund for something important. Can I expect to receive it in 21 days?
Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after the IRS receives your return. Even though the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it’s possible your refund may take longer. Also, remember to take into consideration the time it takes for your financial institution to post the refund to your account or for you to receive it by mail.
It's been longer than 21 days since the IRS received my return and I haven’t gotten my refund. Why?
Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return:
Includes errors
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. See Q&A below.
Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
Needs further review in general
The IRS will contact you by mail when more information is needed to process your return.
