How to Check on the Status of an IRS Tax Return
Anyone waiting for a considerable tax refund check probably has plans for the money. The IRS has an online tool for tax refund tracking that is available to all who have filed a federal tax return. The "Where's My Refund?" tool shows the status of tax return processing or the date a check was mailed. It also helps in cases of lost or stolen checks as well as checks returned to the IRS because of an unreported change of address.
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Instructions
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Send a federal tax return to the IRS that shows a refund amount due with the online filing system or by mail. Allow three days for an electronically filed tax return and three to four weeks for one that was mailed before using the online tax refund tracking tool.
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Log on to the "Where's My Refund?" form presented by the IRS. Fill in your Social Security number, click the choice that shows your filing status and fill in the refund amount printed on the federal tax return.
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Click the "Submit" button and view the results of the IRS search to see the status of your tax return. The online tool shows results almost instantly.
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Report a change of address that happened after you sent your return to find out whether your tax refund check was sent back to the IRS by the postal service. Fill in the online form for tax refund tracking. The tool will give you a change of address form if the check was returned. Your check will be sent to the new address shortly thereafter.
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Report a lost or stolen check on the "Where's My Refund?" tool. Wait 28 days after the date the check was mailed to fill in the online form. The tool will give details on how to file a claim for a lost or stolen tax refund check.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
