Are You Tired Of Asking The IRS Where Is My Refund?

All year long millions of people work hard and pay taxes. When tax season rolls around many people are anxious to receive their IRS refund, and many more need it to help keep their families afloat for the year to come. Because of this, many people are often agitated, waiting daily for their refund. To help ease some of their anguish, the IRS has created a tool. The IRS refund status tool, also known as where is my refund, allows citizens to log in and check their tax refund status. Here are a few things that people should know about the tool, and a few other helpful tips as well.

Where’s My Refund? 

When tax season rolls around, many people are left asking “where is my tax refund?” The IRS created a solution to solve a case of the refund blues, and that tool is called “Where is my refund.” The tool allows people to login to the IRS website and check their tax refund status. The status is displayed in a series of bars, with 3 steps. As your refund timeline progresses, each section of the meter is filled in, showing clearly which step you’re on. The tool also provides helpful information for users according to what step their on. The first section shows that your tax return was received and that they are beginning to process it. After your refund is processed, the second block with fill in and below you will be able to find your direct deposit date or mailing date. Once your refund is sent to you, the third and final block fills in, stating that your refund has been sent.

When To Check It

Because of many anxious citizens, the IRS recommends that you only check the where is my refund tool once per day. The system updates only once per day, usually between 12am and 6am daily. Because of this, the best times of the day to check are around 3am, after 6am and before 12am daily. On certain holidays, no updates are given. If you check the tax refund status tool too often, you will then be locked out for a certain amount of time ranging from one to twenty four hours.

No Updates, What Do I Do?

If it has been at least two weeks and you are still only on the first bar in the where is my refund tool, there is another way that you can check to see if your tax refund is done processing. Though this method isn’t always accurate, many users have found it to be. To see if you’re going to get a direct deposit date soon, and to tell if your refund has finished processing (you will never get a date before your refund has finished processing) you can order your transcripts. Your tax transcripts have all of the information about your previous IRS tax refunds on them. Once your tax refund is finished processing, you should be able to order your transcripts and view them. Anyone is able to do this by going to IRS.gov and locating the section under tax returns that allows you to order your transcript. Be sure to order only the transcript for the current tax season, the one you are waiting for the return on. If you are able to order and view your transcripts, your refund should be done processing and you should receive a deposit date within 48 hours.

Got A Code?

Sometimes the Where Is My Refund tool shows codes below the tracker. Often, these codes are just pertaining to general information. However, sometimes these codes tell more. If you have received a code that you’re not sure of, be sure to check it with the IRS by visiting their website or calling them. Sometimes these codes mean a variety of things, such as re-sequencing, delayed processing, and more. Don’t be alarmed if you see a code, it’s often just general information. Everyone will see some code below the tracker, and often it’s nothing to be alarmed about. If you are by chance re-sequenced, don’t panic, it’s not because anything is wrong. For example, one year a friend found out that his tax return had been re-sequenced. He assumed the worst, thinking it would now take months to receive his refund. A week later, he learned that he was done processing and received a direct deposit date. The re-sequence only put a week onto his waiting time.

When To Call

The IRS suggests that most refunds will be processed and paid within 21 days of the day that they accepted your refund (not the day you filed.) Often, they won’t give out any information pertaining to your refund before those 21 days have passed. If you have been waiting for more than 21 days without any updates on the IRS where is my refund tool, it would be wise to call the IRS. Most people receive their IRS refund within that 21 day time frame, but sometimes things happen that prevent the IRS from meeting that time frame. Stay calm, it doesn’t mean that anything is necessarily wrong, but it would still be recommended to call if 21 days go by with no updates on your tax refund. If your direct deposit date goes by and you have yet to receive to your return, call the IRS immediately and check with your bank to be sure that your refund hasn’t bounced back to the IRS. Be patient, and only call when you really feel you should. The IRS is very busy processing and sending out millions of refunds, and a large amount of calls could slow that process even more.

In Conclusion

Waiting for your tax refund is often pain staking and riddled with anxiety. However, with the Where Is My Refund tool, people are able to track their tax refund status, allowing them a greater peace of mind. Be sure to stay patient, and only contact the IRS when you feel that something has gone wrong. The IRS works very hard to process and send out tax refunds in a timely manner, but sometimes things happen that can delay the arrival of your refund. By using the IRS Where Is My Refund tool, you’ll be able to sleep easy knowing that your tax refund is moving along smoothly. Waiting is hard, but with the ability to track your refund status, it makes waiting just a little bit more bearable. Stay patient, your refund is on it’s way. For more information, visit the IRS website at IRS.gov.