Where’s My Refund? How to Track Your Tax Refund Status

From the Kiplinger website

Good for you if you already filed your 2021 tax return. It must feel nice to have that out of the way. But if you’re getting a refund, now you have to wait around for your payment to arrive. And the wait might be longer than usual this year, because the IRS already has a backlog of unprocessed returns from previous years to deal with. If you really need the money, any delay at all can really be frustrating. Fortunately, the IRS has a tool that can help reduce the anxiety that comes with waiting – it’s called the “Where’s My Refund” portal.

The online tool will show the status of your tax refund within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-filed return or four weeks after a paper return is mailed. In most case, it will tell you that your tax refund has either been:

* Received (the IRS has your tax return and is processing it);

* Approved (the IRS is preparing to send your refund to your bank or directly to you in the mail); or

* Sent (the money is on its way).

Learn more