How to Check on Your Tax Refund ?

If you already filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you have several options for checking on the status of your refund.

One way is to use "Where's My Refund?" an interactive tool on IRS.gov. Simple online instructions guide taxpayers through a process that checks the status of their refund after they provide identifying information shown on their tax return. Once the information is processed, results could be one of several responses, including:

• Acknowledgement that a return was received and is in processing
• The mailing date or direct deposit date of the taxpayer’s refund
• Notice that the refund has been returned to the IRS because it could not be delivered

The results also include links to customized information based on the taxpayer's specific situation. The links guide taxpayers through the steps they need to take to resolve any issues that may be affecting their refund.

The "Where's My Refund?" service meets stringent IRS security and privacy certifications. Taxpayers enter identifying information that includes their Social Security number, filing status and the exact amount of the refund shown on the return. This specific information verifies that the person is authorized to access that account and avoids an unsuccessful response.

"Where's My Refund?" is accessible to visually impaired taxpayers who use the Job Access with Speech screen reader used with a Braille display and is compatible with different JAWS modes.