You can check the status of a federal tax return online through the IRS using its refund/status lookup, or by signing in to your IRS account. If you mailed a paper return, status updates usually take longer than an e-filed return.
What you need
Have these ready before you check:
- Your Social Security number or ITIN.
- Your filing status.
- The exact whole-dollar refund amount from your return.
When to check
- E-filed returns: usually within 24 hours after the IRS accepts the return.
- Paper returns: usually about 4 weeks after mailing.
Other ways to check
- Sign in to your IRS online account to view return or refund status.
- Use the IRS mobile app.
- Contact the IRS by phone, though wait times can be long.
- For a state return, check your state tax agency’s website.
What the status means
The IRS status checker usually shows whether your return was received, approved, or whether a refund was sent. The IRS updates the status about once a day, so checking more often usually does not help.
Practical tip
If your refund is delayed, first confirm your filing details match exactly what is on the return, since even a small mismatch can block the lookup. Then check whether the return was accepted, not just submitted.