Where’s my refund?

Track your federal refund straight from the source — the IRS updates its tool once every 24 hours.

IRS.gov Official government tool
Federal Refunds

Check your refund on IRS.gov

You’ll be taken to “Where’s My Refund?”, the IRS’s own tracker. It has the most accurate and up-to-date information about your federal refund.

Go to IRS.gov
  • 24 hours after e-filing
  • 4 weeks after paper filing
  • Most refunds in 21 days
What You’ll See

Three stages to your refund

The IRS tracker moves through these in order. Yours will sit on one of them.

  1. Return received

    The IRS has your return and has started processing it.

  2. Refund approved

    Processing is done and your refund amount is confirmed.

  3. Refund sent

    On its way by direct deposit or cheque. Allow up to 5 days for your bank.

Before You Start

What you’ll need

The IRS asks for all four before it will show your status.

1

Social Security Number

Or your ITIN, exactly as it appears on the return.

2

Filing status

Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, and so on.

3

Exact refund amount

To the dollar, as shown on your filed return.

4

Tax year

The year the return covers — for example, 2025.

Secure & official

Refund information comes straight from the IRS. Cedar Tax Advisors has no access to your refund details, and will never ask you for them by email or text.

Something look wrong?

If the tracker shows something you don’t expect, or it’s been longer than 21 days, we’ll help you work out why.

Talk to an advisor