Where's Your Refund?

You've filed your return and are waiting for the check to arrive. Use an online tool to track the check's progress. The IRS's "Where's My Refund?" application lets you see where your check is. You have to wait seven days after e-filing your return and four to six weeks after mailing a paper return to use this tool.

Enter your information

To use the "Where's My Refund?" online tool, located on the IRS home page, you must enter your:

• Social Security Number (or Taxpayer Identification Number)
• Filing status (single, married filing a joint return, married filing a separate return, head of household, or qualifying widow(er))
• The exact amount of the refund you're expecting

You can also check the status of your refund by calling the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954.

Note: "Where's My Refund?" cannot be used to track down your rebate check under the Economic Stimulus Act (these are being sent starting in May); the rebate check is sent independently from any refund you're owed.

How long to receive a refund

Typically, you can expect to receive a refund that is due on a paper return in the mail in about four to six weeks. This time is cut in half if you have the refund deposited in your bank account electronically (to do this you needed to have included the necessary information on your return by providing the account number and routing number of the bank).

If you e-filed your return, you can expect to receive a check in the mail in about half the time it takes for a return filed by mail (about two to three weeks). Again, this time is reduced to as few as 8 to 15 days if you used direct deposit.

Late refunds

If you use this tool and discover that more than 28 days have passed since the IRS mailed your refund, you can initiate a trace. If the IRS was unable to deliver the check because you moved, you can change your address online.

In the future, to avoid delivery problems, use the direct deposit option to have your refund electronically transferred directly into your bank account (or into an IRA, a health savings account, medical savings account, or Coverdell education savings account).

Source: IR-2008-64