Filing your taxes can be a stressful task, but waiting for your refund can also be anxiety-inducing. Luckily, the IRS offers an easy way to track your tax refund status online. In this article, we’ll show you how to check the status of your tax refund and provide some tips on speeding up the process.
Why Should You Check Your Tax Refund Status?
Before we dive into the steps on how to check your status, let’s discuss why it’s important.
- Knowing when you will receive your refund can help with budgeting and financial planning.
- The IRS processes millions of returns every year and sometimes errors occur which could delay or affect the amount of your refund. Checking your return regularly ensures that you’re aware of any issues that may arise.
- Finally, checking in on a regular basis minimizes attempts from scammers claiming false refunds under another person’s name.
Now let’s take a look at how you can easily track the progress of processing of refund amounts paid by government authorities towards income received by taxpayers.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check Your Tax Refund Status
- Gather necessary information
- Before beginning the tracking process online, have available:
1) Social security number (SSN),
2) Filing status
3) Exact amount owed as stated by last submitted tax declaration
- Before beginning the tracking process online, have available:
- Go online
- Visit either “Where’s My Refund?” tool via IRS.gov/Home/Tools/TrackRefund page or “IRS2Go” app that is available in Google Play store or Apple App Store.
- Enter personal details
- Fill out required fields such as SSN and filing status along with applicable timeframe based upon whether filling electronically versus paper submission mailings.
- Click button submit and wait for response from database for processing
- After submission, the tool will display a message on screen with information including status update about where funds stand along with other additional information. The response time typically takes 24 hours or more to process in full.
Tips for Speeding Up Your Refund Process
Since it’s essential to be aware of any errors that may arise, faster refund processing times can be beneficial. Here are some tips:
- E-file your tax return: Filing electronically is quickest and most straightforward way of filing taxes.
- Opt for direct deposit: Selecting this option ensures a straight-through processing method without manual intervention and delivers refunds much quicker compared to paper checks.
- Avoid mistakes when submitting your return: Carefully check all math calculations and verify personal details such as Social Security number,and current address.
Conclusion
Checking your tax refund status online is an easy task that can help you stay informed about the progress of your refund payment from government authorities. Being aware of any unexpected changes, misinformation or delays allows individuals more control over their finances overall. By following these simple steps, taxpayers are equipped with knowledge and tools necessary during tax season which saves them money,time & hassle!
FAQs
Q: How do I check the status of my tax refund online?
A: You can check your tax refund status online through the IRS Where’s My Refund tool. This tool will prompt you to enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount for the current tax year. If your return has been processed, it will also show an estimated deposit date or a mailing date.
Q: How often is the Where’s My Refund tool updated with new information?
A: The IRS updates its system once every 24 hours usually overnight, so taxpayers should wait at least 24 hours after electronically filing their return before checking their refund status online using this service.
Q: What should I do if there is no record of my refund on the Where’s My Refund website?
A: If you filed your taxes more than three weeks ago and don’t see any record of your refund on the website yet, you may want to contact the IRS directly to inquire about your return’s processing status. It may take longer than expected if there are errors in your submitted information or if further review by an agent is required due to red flags that were identified for fraud prevention purposes in certain circumstances like identity theft protection measures etc., sometimes overpayments from prior years can offset refunds so it might be helpful to request a transcript which reflects all activity related to previous returns including payments credited toward balances owed or offsets affecting current year monitoring etc..
