How to Check the Progress of My Taxes

Paper returns take longer to confirm than ones filed electronically.

Once you electronically file your tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, it takes at least 72 hours---3 to 4 weeks if you mail in your return---before tax refund information posts online or to the recorded phone system. After the 72-hour waiting period, you can access information about the progress of your taxes until you confirm the estimated date of your refund.

Instructions

Online

1. Navigate to the "Get Refund Status" page of the IRS website. Enter your nine-digit Social Security Number or your Individual Taxpayer Identification number. You can find the number in the upper right corner of your tax return.

2. Enter the filing status you used when completing your return, such as "Single," "Married, filing joint return," "Married, filing separate return," "Head of household," or "Qualifying widow(er)." Find your filing status on 1040 and 1040A tax forms in one of boxes labeled "1" through "5" on the first page of the return. The filing status on a 1040 EZ is either "Single, filing joint return" or "Married, filing joint return."

3. Enter the whole dollar amount that you expect to receive for your tax refund. This amount will be listed on your prepared return. For Form 1040, the amount is listed on line 74a. On Form 1040A, you can find the amount on line 46a. On Form 1040 EZ, look on line 12a for the amount of your expected refund.

4. Click "Submit." Your browser will redirect you to a page that will give you the most recent status information or a date that you should check again.

Phone

1. Call IRS Refund Hotline at [phone]. Or dial the IRS TeleTax System at [phone].

2. Enter your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number, filing status and whole dollar amount of your expected tax refund as prompted by the automated system.

3. Listen for the status of your refund to find out the progress of your taxes.

Tips & Warnings

• The IRS asks that you wait at least 3 weeks after filing a paper return to check the progress of your taxes.

• Apple smartphone users can check the status of their tax refund by downloading the free IRS2Go application from the Apple App Store. Android users can download the free IRS2Go app from the Android Marketplace.

References

• IRS; Checking the Status of Your Refund; Feb 24, 2011
• IRS: Refund Help

Resources

• IRS: Get Refund Status