How to Check My Income Tax Return

Once you have filed for your income tax return, it can seem like a lifetime before the refund arrives in the mail or in your bank account. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers several options for tracking the status of your refund to make the waiting a little easier.

• Check the status of your federal income tax return online by going directly to the IRS website. The link for the "Where's My Refund?" tool is on their front page and is available in English or Spanish. You will need you or your spouse's social security number, filing status and whole dollar amount of your expected tax refund. 


• Download the free IRS2Go app for your smartphone. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or from the Microsoft Marketplace. You will need you or your spouse's social security number, filing status and the amount in whole dollars of your expected refund. 


• Call the IRS at one of their toll free numbers (800-829-1954 or 800-829-4477) and their automated system can look up the status of your refund. You will need you or your spouse's social security number, your filing status and the amount in whole dollars of your expected refund.

Your refund status will be available 72 hours after you e-file your income taxes or 2-3 weeks after you mail them. The system updates with any new information every Wednesday. If it has been more than eight weeks and you still have not received your refund, the IRS requests that you contact them directly through their website.