Check Your Federal Tax Refund on Form 1040

Posted on May 16, 2024

We are all waiting on our tax refunds !! If you paid more through the year than you owe in tax, you may get a refund. Even if you didn't pay tax, you may still get a refund if you qualify for a refundable credit.

Refund Status if Return is e-filed:

If you e-file your return, you can usually see your refund status after about 48 hours with -Where's My Refund? You canget refund information for the current year and past 2 years.

Time Frame for Refunds:

To process your refund- IRS usually takes:

• Up to 21 days for an e-filed return
• 4 weeks or more for amended returns and returns sent by mail
• Longer if your returns need corrections or extra review

Timing of your Refund Changes in the following scenarios, if you:

• Claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
• File a paper return
• File an amended return
• Request injured spouse relief
• File a Form 1040-NR, Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return
• Make an error on your return

Choose how to get your Refund:

You can get your refund by-

• Direct Deposit: This is the fastest way to get your refund. Deposit into your checking, savings or retirement account. It can be split up into three accounts.
• Paper Check: IRS will mail the check to the address on the return- Notify IRS for any change in address.
• Prepaid debit card: Check with your bank or card provider to se if your card will work and which account numbers to use.
• Mobile payment apps: Some apps accept direct deposits.
• U.S. Saving Bonds: This option was available for the first time in early 2010 and over the years more improvements have been made by the IRS, to give more registration options for owners and beneficiaries. When you file your tax return, you can tell the IRS you want to save part or all of your refund by submitting Form 8888, Allocation of Refund ( Including Savings Bond Purchases), when you file your return. Follow the instructions on Form 8888 to tell the IRS to make a direct deposit of the amount you designate to an IRA, to buy U.S saving bonds, to make a direct deposit to a savings or checking account or other saving vehicles, or to request a paper check.

Plan Next Year's Refund: 

To get a bigger or smaller refund next filing season, adjust the taxes you pay through the year with the Tax Withholding Estimator.