How to Check on a Tax Refund With Electronic Filing
- 1). Check the acknowledgment email you received from your online tax preparation software to determine when the IRS received your tax return. Since it could take up to 72 hours for the return to be uploaded to the IRS database, wait at least three days before attempting to check the status of your refund. After three days, go online to irs.gov and find the "where's my refund" link. Click on the link and follow the prompts. Be sure to have your tax return handy because you'll be prompted to answer a series of security questions before being allowed to access your refund status. The online system will request your refund amount, Social Security information and filing status. Once you input the required information, the page will provide you with the approximate date your refund will be mailed or directly deposited into your bank account.
- 2). Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to request the status of your e-filed refund. The customer service representative will be able to advise you as to the status of your return and when to expect your refund. If there are delay, the agent will advise what steps to take or verification you need to provide.
- 3). Refer to the IRS's 2010 e-file IRS Cycle chart to determine when to expect your refund. The chart will provide you with a date your refund will either be directly deposited or mailed depending upon the choice you selected when you completed your return.
