When can I expect my income tax refund? Track your money with IRS tools

Are you pondering where your tax refund money is? If you filed your 2020 tax return before the May 17 deadline — that’s Monday, by the way — you could still be waiting for that refund money from the IRS. We’ll walk you through how to use IRS tracker tools to get an update on your refund status. (And if filing your taxes is still on your to-do list, you’ll need to file your tax return or request an extension ASAP.)

The IRS is expecting some refund delays this year, and there are a few reasons why you may not have received yours yet — for example, if the IRS is doing extra calculations because you qualify for a Recovery Rebate Credit or if you filed a paper tax return by snail mail. The online IRS tools let you know if your tax return was received, if the IRS is processing it or when your refund was mailed out or deposited electronically in your bank account. 

The IRS tools can help in other ways — if you think your third stimulus check is missing, you can track the status of your payment. Here’s more information about whether you might need to file an amended tax form, if you’re eligible for other COVID-related credits and benefits and how to see if the IRS has a tax refund you need to claim. If you have kids, here’s how to calculate how much money you might get through child tax credits. And if you received unemployment in 2020, you could get extra money with your refund if you qualify for a tax break. This story is updated frequently. 

Is the IRS taking longer to process tax returns this year?

Because of the pandemic, the IRS ran at limited capacity last year, which put a strain on its ability to process tax returns and send out stimulus checks. The IRS is now open again and processing mail, tax returns, payments, refunds and correspondence, the agency said, but the pandemic continues to cause delays in some of services.

The IRS said it is issuing most refunds in less than 21 days right now but some are taking longer, including for mailed paper tax returns. The IRS said it’s also taking longer than 21 days to issue refunds for some 2020 tax returns that require review, such as determining Recovery Rebate Credit amounts for the first and second stimulus checks or figuring earned income tax credit and additional child tax credit amounts.

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How do I check the status of my income tax refund?

To track the status of your tax refund, you need several things on hand: Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, your filing status — single, married or head of household — and your refund amount in whole dollars, which you can find on your tax return. Also, make sure it’s been at least 24 hours before you try tracking your refund.

Using the IRS tool Where’s My Refund, enter your SSN or ITIN, your filing status and your exact refund amount, then press Submit. If you entered your information correctly, you’ll be taken to a page that shows your refund status….