As of May 1, the Internal Revenue Service received 143.7 million tax returns, and has processed all but 1.1 million of them, according to the latest release from the agency. More than $320 billion was refunded to the American people.
Where’s yours?
If you’re still waiting for your refund nearly a month after the April 15 filing deadline, there could be several reasons.
Most refunds are issued within 21 days when submitted electronically for direct deposit, the IRS said. Mailed returns normally take from 6-8 weeks. If there are problems with your return, they can slow things down while they are resolved. And if you filed at the deadline, or your return required extra scrutiny (such as applying for additional tax credits), it may get bogged down.
Where’s my refund? Why haven’t I gotten my tax refund yet?
The most common culprits for delayed tax return processing are:
How to track your 2025 income tax refund
You can track the status of your 2025 federal income tax refund by using the IRS refund status tool at irs.gov/wheres-my-refund or by using the IRS2GO mobile app.
You’ll need your Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status, and the exact refund amount on your return.
If you filed an amended return, go to irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return.
How long does it take to get a tax refund?
That depends on how you filed. According to the IRS, if you choose direct deposit, you should receive your refund within 5 days of processing. More than 9 out of 10 refunds are issued within 21 days, the IRS said on its website.
Mailed refunds may take several weeks. And any problems with your return, including missing information or inaccuracies, can delay it further.
Financial resource Kiplinger created a breakdown of the typical IRS tax refund schedule:
What does my refund status mean?
According to the IRS, here’s what your status means:
If I haven’t received my refund, should I file my taxes again?
“Filing the same tax return again typically won’t speed up your refund and could cause delays,” the IRS said. You should only refile your tax return if all of these apply:
When should I call about my tax return?
You should only call the IRS if Where’s My Refund recommends it.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Where is my refund? Why your tax refund is still late, and what to do
Reporting by C. A. Bridges and Damon C. Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
