How to Contact the IRS to See if a Return Was Received

It can be difficult to wait for your tax refund. Knowing if the IRS has received your personal tax return helps to ensure that the process is on the right track. The method of contacting the IRS is different depending on whether you e-filed or mailed in your return.

Things You'll Need

• Copy of your personal tax returns
• Internet access

Instructions

1. Go to the IRS's service "Where's My Refund?" on the irs.gov website (the full website is below). This website will show you the status of your personal income tax return. In order to receive accurate information, wait at least 72 hours after e-filing your tax return, regardless of whether you e-filed yourself or did it through a tax software company or tax preparation firm. You will need to wait at least three weeks after mailing a return through the post office.

2. Enter the required information on the "Where's My Refund?" site. You will need to enter your social security number, your filing status (single, married-filing joint return, etc.), and the whole dollar amount of your expected refund.

3. The website will provide information on your refund if you have waited at least the minimum wait times. If the site shows that the IRS tried but was unable to deliver your refund or deposit it into your bank account, you can update your address or your banking information online so that they can retry. If the website says that they did deliver the refund and you did not receive it, you can put a trace on it with the IRS after waiting 28 days.

4. Call the IRS if you have mailed in your return and the "Where's My Refund?" website does not show it as being received after four weeks. The IRS may request that you mail them another copy. When you are e-filing, you receive an electronic confirmation of receipt so that you will know with two to three days of filing that the IRS has received your return and is working on it.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a copy of every tax return you file as well as hard copies of electronic confirmations.

• Do not reply to any emails purportedly from the IRS. The IRS will never contact taxpayers by email and this is usually a phishing scam.

Resources

• Where's My Refund