How Do I Track the Status of My Tax Refund?
The wait for your tax refund can feel like it’s never going to end, and the uncertainty does not help. You likely have plans for your refund, and those plans may be on hold until the funds hit your account. The good news is that you can track the status of your tax refund and obtain the peace of mind you are looking for. And if you have questions or concerns regarding tax preparation, you should not wait to reach out for the skilled guidance of experienced Philadelphia tax professionals.
When You Can Check Your Tax Refund’s Status
When you can check your tax refund status is determined by how you file. Consider the following:
- If you file your taxes electronically, which is the most common approach, you can generally obtain status information online within 24 hours of filing. If your filing was for a prior year, however, the wait is four or five days.
- If you filed your taxes on paper through the mail, you will need to wait about four weeks before status information will be available online.
- If you use the IRS TeleTax System, it takes about four weeks before status information is available by phone. It’s important to note that this phone system is updated on weekends, which should guide your inquiries.
Ultimately, e-filers can expect to receive their refunds within three weeks, while paper filers are looking at about six to eight weeks before their checks arrive in the mail.
Where to Search
There are three primary mechanisms for checking the status of your tax refund.
Where’s My Refund
The IRS’s official online tool for checking the status of refunds is Where’s My Refund?, which is highly effective and easy to navigate. Here, you can confirm that your tax return was received and is being processed. This website also reports when your refund is approved and the date by which it will be issued. Finally, the site posts the date that your refund was sent electronically to your bank, which can take up to five days to show up or was mailed to you, which can take more than a week or two to arrive.
IRS2Go Mobile App
The IRS also has a mobile app, IRS2Go, that shares the same information as their website but is more readily available on your phone or tablet.
IRS TeleTax System
You can also check the status of your tax refund through the IRS TeleTax System, which offers automated information and can be reached at 800-829-4477.
Trusted Philadelphia Tax Professionals Are Standing By to Help
The seasoned Philadelphia tax professionals at Phoenix Tax Consultants, LLC, provide a suite of tax services that help to ensure our valued clients’ financial rights are well protected and their tax responsibilities are effectively addressed. For more information about what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting us online or calling us at 610-933-3507 today.