Waiting on Your Tax Refund? Here Is How to Track It for Free

Where is my refund, and how do I check it?

If you filed your taxes and are still waiting for your money, you do not have to guess. The IRS runs a free tool called Where's My Refund that shows the status of your refund.

You can use it on the IRS website or through the IRS2Go mobile app. Both are free. You never have to pay anyone to check on your own refund.

To look up your status, you will need three things: your Social Security number (or ITIN), your filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.

What do the refund statuses mean?

Where's My Refund usually shows one of three stages. Each one tells you where your money is in the process.

Return Received means the IRS has your tax return and is working on it. Refund Approved means they finished checking it and your refund is on the way. Refund Sent means the money has been sent to your bank or mailed as a check.

Once you see Refund Sent, it can still take a little time for the money to reach your bank account or mailbox. That part is normal.

When should I actually call the IRS?

Calling usually will not speed things up, and phone lines are often busy. The tracker gives you the same information a phone agent would see.

The IRS suggests you only call if Where's My Refund tells you to, or if a lot of time has passed with no update. Check the tool first, since it is updated regularly.

Be patient with the tool too. It shows the latest status the IRS has, so checking once a day is plenty.

How do I avoid refund scams?

This is a time when scammers get busy. Remember that the official tracker is always free and lives on IRS.gov. The IRS will not text, email, or call you out of the blue asking for your bank details or a fee to release your refund.

No company can get your refund to you faster than the IRS process allows. If someone promises that for a fee, walk away.

When in doubt, go straight to the source. Type IRS.gov into your browser yourself instead of clicking a link in a message.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to check my refund status?

No. Where's My Refund and the IRS2Go app are both free. You never need to pay anyone to check on your own refund.

What information do I need to use the tracker?

You need your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return.

Should I call the IRS to speed up my refund?

Calling usually will not speed things up. The tracker shows the same status an agent would see. Only call if the tool tells you to.

How can I avoid refund scams?

Use only the official tool at IRS.gov. The IRS will not text, email, or call asking for a fee to release your refund, and no service can get it to you faster.