How Long It Takes to Get Your Tax Refund
Filing your return electronically and using direct deposit can speed up the process by weeks.


Question: I just filed my income tax return. How soon can I expect to receive my refund?
Answer: It depends on how you filed and how you're getting your refund. You'll get the money the fastest if you e-filed your return and have your refund deposited directly into your bank account. E-filers generally receive their refunds less than 21 days after filing. If you mailed in a paper return, it may take up to six weeks to receive your refund.
Your refund may be delayed, however, if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. The IRS is taking longer to review returns that claim those credits to help prevent tax ID theft. In that case, the earliest you could receive your refund is February 27 -- and that's if you chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with your tax return. Otherwise, it will take longer to get your refund. See the IRS's Direct Deposit page for more information about your direct deposit options and instructions.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
You can check on the status of your refund with the IRS's Where's My Refund tool. You'll need to provide your Social Security number, your tax-filing status and your refund amount to look up its status. You can use the tool starting at least 24 hours after e-filing, or four weeks after mailing in your return. The IRS updates the information daily, usually overnight.
The Where's My Refund tool doesn't work if you filed an amended return. In that case, you can use the Where's My Amended Return tool to look up the status of Form 1040X, Amended Tax Return, for the current year and the previous three years.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
-
Where There's a Will, There's a Way Your Assets Will Be Distributed as You Wish
Your will is the backbone of a strong, adaptable estate plan that ensures what you leave behind goes to your selected beneficiaries. Without a will, state laws determine who gets your assets.
-
What You're Losing if You Cut Back on 401(k) Contributions
Missing out on the benefits of the employer match and compounding growth could force you to work longer and lower your standard of living in retirement. Here are some alternative options.
-
IRS Names Its First CEO: But He’s Also Still Running Social Security
Tax News Will this new role make it difficult to address emerging issues like budget and staffing cuts and customer service concerns?
-
Three Popular Tax Breaks Are Gone for Good in 2026
Tax Breaks Here's a list of federal tax deductions and credits that you can't claim in the 2026 tax year. Plus, high-income earners could get hit by a 'surprise' tax bill.
-
IRS Phasing Out Paper Checks: What Happens After September 30?
Tax Changes Avoid delays when IRS tax refunds and Social Security paper checks are cut off. Here’s what to know.
-
Ask the Editor, September 12: Tax Questions on 529 Plan Rollovers to a Roth IRA
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer four questions from readers on transferring 529 plan money to a Roth IRA.
-
IRS in Turmoil: GOP Budget Cuts and Staff Shake-Ups Threaten Taxpayer Services
IRS Republican lawmakers advance a controversial budget bill that would gut IRS funding further, risking your 2026 tax filing season.
-
Ask the Editor, September 5: Tax Questions on SALT Deduction
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer questions from readers on the OBBB's changes to the SALT deduction.
-
Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are 10 Tax Breaks For Middle-Class Families in 2025
Tax Breaks Working middle-income Americans won’t need to itemize to claim these tax deductions and credits — if you qualify.
-
Another State Rebels Against Trump’s New 2025 Tax Law: What Now?
State Taxes Even if states adopt tax policies in the so-called ‘big beautiful bill,’ lawmakers may have workarounds at their fingertips.