The timing for receiving an income tax return depends on the country and the specific tax office. Here are key points for some common situations:
- In the United States, for the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS started accepting returns for tax year 2024 on January 26, 2025. Most taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit can expect refunds within about 21 days after IRS acceptance. Paper returns and refunds sent by mail may take 4 to 8 weeks or longer. The IRS offers a "Where's My Refund?" tool for tracking refund status starting 24 hours after e-filing.
- In Germany, the average waiting time to receive a tax refund after filing is about 3 to 8 weeks. The tax office first sends a tax assessment, and the refund usually occurs after this assessment. If no tax assessment is issued within 3 to 6 months, the taxpayer should follow up.
- In South Africa, the tax filing season for individuals in 2025 runs from July 21 to October 20 for non-provisional taxpayers, with auto-assessments occurring earlier in July. The exact refund timing isn't specified but would follow the conclusion of filing and assessments.
If you specify the country or tax authority relevant to your income tax return, more precise timing details can be provided.
