How to Check the Status of a Federal Tax Return

Once you file your tax return and know that you are due a refund it is natural to want to know when that refund will arrive in your account or mailbox. Checking the status of your federal tax return not only lets you know the status of your refund but also alerts you to any possible glitches in the system. If the Internal Revenue Service mailed your check and you did not receive it, you know you need to contact the Internal Revenue Service.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Current tax return

1. Make sure you have your current tax return handy since you will need to enter information from the return.

2. Visit the Internal Revenue Service website (see resource link below) and choose the link titled, "Where's My Refund?" For instructions in Spanish, choose the Spanish version of this link titled, "Donde esta mi reembolso?"

3. Enter your social security number, filing status and exact refund amount from your current tax return. Your filing status is located on your tax return. Filing statuses include single, married filing joint, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow(er).

4. Read the next screen for the response, which could state that your return was received and is being processed. It may also include information such as mailing date of your check or direct deposit or notice that the Internal Revenue Service could not send your refund due to an incorrect address.

5. Call the Internal Revenue Service Refund Hotline at [phone] if you do not have Internet access. You will still need to provide your social security number, filing status and exact refund amount. Use your telephone keypad to enter this information when prompted for it.

6. Listen carefully to the automated recording; if the automated response does not include the date your refund check was mailed, please wait a week before checking the status of your federal tax return since the Internal Revenue Service mails checks once a week on Fridays.

Tips & Warnings

• When you check the status of your federal tax return online, the website will provide links to information based on your circumstances. The links will cover specific scenarios that may have happened with your check so use this provided information before calling the Internal Revenue Service. For example, you may use these links to trace a check that the Internal Revenue Service sent more than 28 days ago. The Internal Revenue Service website also includes ways to check your return if you have visual issues. You need a special program with Braille access to view the information.

References

• Internal Revenue Service

Resources

• Internal Revenue Service

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