IRS refund questions surge as filing season opens and “Where’s My Refund” traffic climbs

With the 2026 filing season underway, millions of taxpayers are already asking the same thing in different ways: irs refund timing, irs refund status, and “where my refund” after hitting submit. The federal agency began accepting 2025 tax-year returns on Monday, January 26, 2026 (ET), and the refund pipeline is moving—but not always at the speed filers expect, especially for returns that trigger extra review or certain refundable credits.

Online searches for “where’s my refund,” “irs where’s my refund,” “track my refund,” and “irs refund tracker” typically spike right after opening day, then again in mid-February as early filers wait for deposit dates to appear. This year, the push toward electronic payments and stepped-up fraud screening is also shaping how quickly irs tax refunds show up.

When does the IRS start accepting tax returns

The answer to “when does the irs start accepting tax returns” matters because most refund timelines start only after a return is accepted—not when it’s prepared. For the 2026 season, acceptance began January 26, 2026 (ET) for most individual returns.

A few related timing notes that are easy to miss:

• Some free e-filing options opened earlier in January 2026 for eligible taxpayers, but broad acceptance for individual filings still centers on the late-January start.

• If you filed before January 26 using software that queued submissions, your return generally wouldn’t be accepted until the system opened.

IRS refund tracker: what changes now

The irs refund tracker (often searched as “where my refund” or “where’s my refund”) typically updates once daily and shows a simple progression: return received, refund approved, refund sent. Many filers check repeatedly, but frequent checks don’t accelerate processing.

What’s different this season is the combination of modernization efforts and tighter screening:

• Electronic delivery is increasingly the default. Direct deposit remains the fastest route, while paper processing is slower and more prone to delays.

• Fraud filters are more aggressive. If something doesn’t match prior-year patterns or data the agency receives from employers and payers, the return can be paused for verification.

• Status visibility is uneven early on. E-filed returns often show status within about a day after acceptance, while paper returns may take weeks before the first status appears.

If you’re using a professional preparer or retail service, you may still rely on the same official status tool for the most precise “approved/sent” steps—even if a preparer dashboard looks different.

Typical refund timing and common delays

For many taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit, refunds commonly arrive within about three weeks after acceptance. But several scenarios can stretch that window:

• Errors or missing details (bank account issues, mismatched withholding, name/SSN mismatches).

• Identity verification or return review prompted by fraud safeguards.

• Paper filing, which can take significantly longer to enter the system.

• Amended returns, which usually take much longer than original returns.

A practical way to set expectations: if you e-filed on or after January 26, 2026 (ET), a large share of uncomplicated refunds should land sometime in mid-February 2026, while more complicated cases can run later.

Credits that can slow early refunds

Refunds that include certain refundable credits can face statutory timing limits, even when everything is correct. Returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit are frequently held longer in the early part of the season.

For many early filers who claim those credits and use direct deposit, projected deposit dates tend to appear on the refund status tool by Friday, February 21, 2026 (ET), with many refunds becoming available by Monday, March 2, 2026 (ET). If your status looks stuck before late February, that timing rule may be the reason.

Jackson Hewitt, refund advances, and what “early money” really means

Retail tax chains often promote options that sound like faster refunds. Jackson Hewitt and similar providers market refund advance products that can put funds in a customer’s hands before the government refund is issued, typically based on an expected refund amount and lender approval.

Two important distinctions for anyone comparing offers:

• A refund advance is not the same as your federal refund being processed faster; it’s separate financing tied to your expected refund.

• Fees, eligibility rules, and repayment terms can vary, and the refund still goes through normal processing once the return is accepted.

If your goal is simply speed without added complexity, e-filing and direct deposit generally remain the straightforward path.

Key takeaways

• Acceptance for most 2025 tax-year returns began January 26, 2026 (ET).

• The “Where’s My Refund” flow can be fast for simple e-filed returns, but screening and paper processing can slow timelines.

• Credit-related timing rules can push many early refunds into late February and early March 2026.

Sources consulted: Internal Revenue Service; Associated Press; Kiplinger; Jackson Hewitt