How to Reach the IRS About Your Income Tax Refund Check

If you're concerned that your tax refund has gone astray, you can contact the IRS for assistance.

Many taxpayers put off filing taxes until the last possible moment, but when a tax refund is expected, they count the days until it arrives. Often, people plan to use this money for important purchases or to catch up on bills, so knowing whether a check has been issued and when it might arrive can be reassuring. A taxpayer can contact the Internal Revenue Service about a tax refund check in several convenient ways.

Things You'll Need

• Copy of tax return
• Social Security number

Instructions

1. Open a Web browser and navigate to the Internal Revenue Service website at www.IRS.gov. Click "Online Services" and on the next page that appears, look for and and click the "Where's My Refund?" link

2. Input your Social Security number into the Web form on the "Where's My Refund?" page.

3. Choose the filing status that you indicated on your current tax return.

4. Enter the dollar amount of the refund you are expecting. Wait for the website to respond with an update on the status of your tax refund.

5. Contact the IRS about your tax refund by calling 800-829-1040 if you don't have access to the Web or you prefer to handle your inquiry by telephone.

6. Provide your Social Security Number, filing status and the exact dollar refund amount expected to the IRS customer representative. The agent will let you know the status of your tax refund and the approximate date you can expect to receive it.

Resources

• IRS.gov: Where's My Refund?