Paper Return Delays If you filed on paper, it may take 6 months or more to process your tax return. For service delay details, see Status of Operations. Using a Mobile Device? Download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status. What’s New Where’s My Refund? now provides refund information for the 2021, 2020, and 2019 tax years. You should still view your Online Account to see your payment history, prior year adjusted gross income (AGI), or other tax records. What You Will Need fa-check Your Social Security number or ITIN fa-check Your filing status fa-check Your exact refund amount Check My Refund Status 24 hours after e-filing a tax year 2021 return 3 or 4 days after e-filing a tax year 2019 or 2020 return If you filed on paper, it could take 6 months or more Updates are made daily, usually overnight Refunds Topics Refunds information Tax season refund FAQs Direct deposit Where’s My Amended Return? When Should You Call the IRS? You should call us only if: It's been 21 days or more since you e-filed It’s been more than 6 months since you mailed your paper return Where's My Refund says we can provide more information to you over the phone We'll contact you by mail if we need more information to process your return. Expect delays if you mailed a paper return or responded to an IRS inquiry about your return. Some tax returns take longer to process than others, including when a return: Is filed on paper Needs a correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount Needs a correction to the Child Tax Credit amount Is incomplete Is affected by identity theft or fraud Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit using 2019 income. Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse AllocationPDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process Needs further review in general It's taking us more than 21 days (and up to 120 days) to issue refunds for tax returns with the Recovery Rebate Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit. Don't file a second tax return. If you're due a refund from your tax return, you should wait to get it before filing Form 1040-X to amend your original tax return.
