How long does it take to get your tax refund via direct deposit?

For 9 out of 10 tax filers, the IRS reports that refunds are received within 21 days of processing the tax return. If you choose direct deposit as your payment method, you can expect your tax refund within less than 21 days in most cases. If you choose to file by mail, the return may take up to four weeks or more to process, so your refund will most likely take longer than electronic filing.

How fast can you get a tax refund?

The speed of your tax refund depends on how you filed, if there are any errors on your return, and how you choose to get paid. If you e-file your tax return and elect to be paid via direct deposit, you can get your refund within less than 21 days in most cases. If you choose to paper file and receive your refund via paper check, it could take over a month. You can check the status of your tax refund by using the IRS' Where's My Refund tool.

Why was my refund sent by mail instead of via direct deposit?

If you filed your tax return and elected to receive your tax refund via direct deposit, there may be cases where the IRS mails you a paper check instead. If you provided incorrect direct deposit information, the IRS will mail you a check instead. And if the name on the bank account does not match your name or your spouse's name, the IRS cannot make a direct deposit and will mail a check instead.

Advertiser Disclosure

How Long Does It Take To Get a Tax Refund?

April 10, 2024

Written by Jacob Wade

Edited by Susan Kim

A happy couple smiles and looks at their laptop.

Hispanolistic / iStock/Getty Images

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

With Tax Day coming up next week, it’s crunch time to get your tax return completed. But more important than the tax deadline is when you’ll actually receive your tax refund after filing. If you expect a refund this year, you’re probably sitting on pins and needles waiting for it to actually hit your bank account. There are several factors affecting when you’ll receive your tax refund. Read on to learn more about the IRS refund schedule and how long you can expect to wait for your refund this year.

Check Out: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

How Long Does It Take To Get a Tax Refund?

According to the IRS, most tax refunds are issued in less than three weeks. When you file your tax return, double-check all tax documents before mailing it in or electronically filing to avoid delays. Here are some key takeaways to know about the IRS refund schedule:

The IRS generally accepts your tax return within 24 hours after filing if you e-filed.
It may take up to four days to accept your return if you’re e-filing for a previous tax year — and up to four weeks or more if you mail in your return.
If your return is accepted, then you have started the clock for the refund timetable. The IRS typically issues refunds in less than 21 days after you e-file.
The fastest way to get your refund is to e-file and choose direct deposit for delivery. If you do so, your refund should show in your bank account within a few weeks.

Good To Know

Once your tax return is accepted, you can check the status of your refund within 24 hours using the IRS’ Where’s My Refund tool. Refund information is updated daily on the IRS website.

Amended returns can take up to 20 weeks to process. Three weeks after submitting, you can check the status using the Where’s My Amended Return tool.

2024 Tax Refund Schedule

No matter if you mail it in or file it electronically, it is good to have a delivery time estimation for your federal tax refunds. Below are estimates for when you will get your refund starting from the date you filed to when you actually receive it. These estimates are based on filing acceptance and delivery times, but your refund delivery timing may be different.

Refund Delivery Type	Estimated Delivery Time
E-file — direct deposit	Less than 21 days
E-file — refund check in the mail	About 1 month
Paper file — direct deposit	Up to 7 weeks
Paper file — refund check in the mail	Up to 2 months

How the IRS Processes Tax Returns

It’s important to understand the IRS tax return processing procedures to accurately predict when your refund will arrive. While most tax returns are filed electronically these days, it’s not as easy as hitting “submit” and then getting an instant refund. Here’s how the IRS process works:

Tax return acceptance: When you submit your tax return electronically, the IRS processes your return within 24 hours. This process is mostly automated and involves verifying that the personal and financial information you reported matches the IRS’ records. Once accepted, you’ll get a notification from the IRS, or you can check the status of your refund on the IRS website.
Refund processing: Once your return is accepted, the IRS now has to process your refund. This includes allocating funds from the U.S. Treasury and submitting your payment (either electronically or via paper check by mail).

If there are any issues with your tax return or information cannot be verified, this could delay your tax refund. And the method you elect to get paid through can affect the speediness of your tax refund as well. In general, the fastest way to get paid is by filing electronically and opting for direct deposit.

Tax Return Errors That Can Delay Your Refund

To avoid delays in receiving your refund, make sure all the information you have submitted on your tax return is accurate. Even small errors could require a manual review of your return and lead to a delay of your refund, or worse yet, an audit. Double-checking that all the information is correct can save you some headaches and help you get your refund within the expected time frame.

The following are some common tax return errors that seem minor but could seriously delay your refund:

Selecting more than one filing status by mistake
Putting the wrong name. If you got married or legally changed your name, make sure you’ve updated that information with Social Security.
Putting in the wrong Social Security number by mistake
Not printing your information clearly
Leaving out important information
Entering information on the wrong line
Forgetting to sign and date your tax return
Giving incorrect bank account information if you requested direct deposit
Sending it to the wrong address if you filed by mail
Making computational errors. The IRS will usually correct that for you, but it may still result in a delay.

Other Factors That Can Delay Your Tax Refund

In addition to making errors on your tax return, there are other factors that might cause a delay in getting your tax refund:

Filing late: If you file your tax return late, you may end up getting a delayed refund due to IRS backlogs of processing returns.
Paper filing and refund check: If you fill out your tax return by hand and prefer a paper check, this is the slowest method for getting a tax refund. This can delay your tax refund by up to two months from the day you mail in your return.
Tax credit election: Certain tax credits can’t be issued until February and may cause your refund to be delayed if you filed your return in January. This includes the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit.

What Can You Do To Get Your Tax Refund Earlier?

Besides making sure your tax return is accurate, here are some other things you can do to get your refund as quickly as possible:

File your return as soon as possible: File as early as possible to get ahead of any potential delays. The sooner you can get it filed away, the sooner things can get processed.
Consider e-filing over mailing a paper return: According to the IRS, it could take four weeks or more to process your paper return. Paper returns are more likely to be delayed, and you’re more likely to make mathematical mistakes that cause issues with getting your refund in a timely manner.
Opt for direct deposit: Paper checks sent in the mail will likely arrive later than direct deposit. Providing your banking information and routing number on your return will have your refund showing in your bank account much faster.

How To Check the Status of Your Tax Refund

Here’s a look at options that are available if you want to check the status of your refund.

Where’s My Refund

The easiest way to check the status of your tax refund is to use the IRS’ Where’s My Refund tool. Wait for 24 hours after e-filing or four weeks after mailing your return to start checking. Updates are made daily, usually overnight.

To use the tool, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number (or individual taxpayer Identification number), filing status and total refund amount (in whole dollars). You may be asked to provide additional information if the tool isn’t able to find your return.

IRS2Go Mobile App

If you’re using a mobile device, you can download the IRS2Go app. This app allows you to check the status of your refund, make tax payments and get help from the IRS. Just like the Where’s My Refund tool, you’ll need to submit your Social Security number, filing status and refund amount to check the status of your refund. The IRS2Go app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Where’s My Amended Return

If you file an amended return, you can also check the status of your return using the Where’s My Amended Return tool provided by the IRS.

Tax Refund Status Meaning

When checking the status of your tax return, there are several options that may show up:

Received: This means the IRS has received your tax return and is in the process of reviewing it.
Approved: This means the IRS has received, reviewed and approved your tax return. This means your refund will be sent via your selected refund payment method.
Sent: This status indicates that the IRS has sent your tax refund payment via your select payment method. If you chose direct deposit, this means your refund should show up within a matter of days. If you chose to receive a paper check, this means the IRS has mailed your check.
Tax Topic 152: If you see a refund status that says “Tax Topic 152,” this is a generic message that refers you to an informational article on the IRS website. It usually means you are getting a refund, but your tax return may be in review or delayed for some reason.
Tax Topic 151: This tax topic typically means there is a tax offset, meaning you owe the IRS or another party that is entitled to some (or all) of your tax refund. Tax Topic 151 reviews your appeal right when settling tax disputes.

Can I Call the IRS To Check on My Refund?

If you want to talk to a live representative about your refund, you can call 800-829-1040 during business hours. The IRS reports that wait times should be down to about three minutes per caller, though it can get busier right before the tax filing deadline.

You can also talk face-to-face with a Taxpayer Assistance Center representative in your local area. You can use the Taxpayer Assistance Center office locator tool to find one near you.

How To Check the Status of a Refund for a Previous Year

The Where’s My Refund tool allows you to look up the status of your refund for the most recent two tax years. To check the details of a tax refund for previous tax filing years, you’ll need to create an online account with the IRS. This account allows you to look up old returns, find key data (like your adjusted gross income), and download full transcripts of previous tax return information.

To sign up for an online IRS account, you’ll need to sign up with ID.me. The process includes verifying your identity by providing personal information and submitting a copy of a photo ID. This will be your universal account to sign in to the IRS website.

Final Take To GO

How long it takes to get a tax refund depends on how you filed your taxes and how you chose to receive your refund. Most taxpayers can expect to receive their refund within three weeks of filing their tax return, but there are some situations that can cause delays. If you haven’t received your refund and it’s been more than three weeks, check the status online and respond promptly to any requests for information from the IRS.

FAQ

How long does it take to get your tax refund via direct deposit?
- For 9 out of 10 tax filers, the IRS reports that refunds are received within 21 days of processing the tax return. If you choose direct deposit as your payment method, you can expect your tax refund within less than 21 days in most cases. If you choose to file by mail, the return may take up to four weeks or more to process, so your refund will most likely take longer than electronic filing.
How fast can you get a tax refund?
- The speed of your tax refund depends on how you filed, if there are any errors on your return, and how you choose to get paid. If you e-file your tax return and elect to be paid via direct deposit, you can get your refund within less than 21 days in most cases. If you choose to paper file and receive your refund via paper check, it could take over a month. You can check the status of your tax refund by using the IRS' Where's My Refund tool.
Why was my refund sent by mail instead of via direct deposit?
- If you filed your tax return and elected to receive your tax refund via direct deposit, there may be cases where the IRS mails you a paper check instead. If you provided incorrect direct deposit information, the IRS will mail you a check instead. And if the name on the bank account does not match your name or your spouse's name, the IRS cannot make a direct deposit and will mail a check instead.

More on Taxes

Caitlyn Moorhead and Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.