Where’s my tax refund? Here’s when your IRS money could hit your account
Taxpayers wondering "irs where's my refund" should expect refunds to arrive faster when they file electronically and use direct deposit — but a new shift away from paper checks means some filers could see weeks-long freezes if banking details are missing or rejected. Here’s what to watch for and steps to avoid delays ahead of the mid-April deadline.
How quickly refunds are arriving — and when they can be held up
The IRS is prioritizing electronic processing and direct deposit. For many taxpayers who file electronically and provide accurate bank routing and account numbers, refunds can be issued in as little as 10 business days from the date the IRS accepts the e-file return. Electronic filing plus direct deposit remains the fastest route to a refund.
However, returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC) may not receive immediate payment. Those refunds can be delayed while the agency verifies eligibility for those credits, and some filers should expect delays that push payment into March. Errors on returns — incorrect Social Security numbers, mismatched names, math mistakes or missing information — also extend processing times.
Why refunds can be frozen this year and how long a freeze can last
A major change this filing season is the phaseout of paper refund checks. If a return lacks valid direct deposit information or the banking information is rejected by a financial institution, the IRS will freeze the refund instead of automatically mailing a check. In those cases the agency will send a CP53E notice explaining the problem and give taxpayers 30 days to provide valid bank information through their IRS account.
If taxpayers do not respond within that 30-day window, the IRS will ultimately issue a paper check, but that check generally won't be produced until about six weeks after the notice date. That timeline means filers who do not act promptly or who miss the response window could see refund delays stretch late into spring.
To avoid a freeze and the attendant multi-week delay, filers should include accurate direct deposit details on electronic returns, confirm their bank will accept deposits to the account listed, and carefully review returns for errors before filing.
Practical steps to check status and speed your refund
Before filing, double-check account and routing numbers and make sure names and Social Security numbers match Social Security records. File electronically whenever possible and opt for direct deposit; both speed processing and reduce the chance of manual review.
Taxpayers can monitor the progress of a return using the IRS online refund-status tool that shows updates after the return is accepted. If a CP53E notice arrives, act quickly: log into your IRS account as instructed on the notice and submit valid bank information within the 30-day window to avoid waiting for a paper check later.
Keep calendar dates in mind: the IRS began accepting returns in late January, and federal returns are due by Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (ET). Filing earlier generally means receiving a refund earlier, while filing late or submitting a paper return can extend the wait; paper-filed returns historically take several weeks longer to process.
If you have questions about your individual return or notice, contact the IRS or consult a qualified tax professional to avoid missteps that could lengthen the timeline for your refund.
