Where To Check Your Tax Refund Status In Person and Online

If you’re waiting on a refund, you can usually track it through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for federal taxes and your state department of revenue for state taxes.
You can do this online, by phone, or in limited cases at a local office, but you must use official government channels and have specific information ready.

Quick summary: Where and how to check your refund

• Federal refund (IRS): Use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the official IRS refund status portal or call the IRS refund hotline.
• State refund: Use your state’s department of revenue or taxation website refund status tool or state tax refund phone line.
• In-person help: For complicated or stuck refunds, you may visit a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC), usually by appointment only.
• What you’ll need: Your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount from your tax return.
• Typical timing: Federal e‑filed refunds are commonly available in the system within 24 hours–3 days after acceptance; mailed returns take longer.
• Scam warning: Only use .gov websites and phone numbers listed there, and never pay a third party just to “check” your refund status.

Key terms to know

• Refund status — The current stage your tax refund is in (received, processing, approved, sent).
• Tax year — The calendar year for which you filed taxes (for example, tax year 2024, filed in 2025).
• E-file — Filing your tax return electronically instead of by mail.
• Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) — An in-person IRS office that provides help with account and refund issues, often by appointment.

1. Where to check your refund status (and which office handles it)

Your federal tax refund is handled by the IRS, and your state tax refund is handled by your state’s revenue or taxation agency, such as the “Department of Revenue,” “Department of Taxation,” or “Tax Commission.”

For federal refunds, the main official touchpoints are:

• The IRS online refund status portal (often labeled “Where’s My Refund?” on the official IRS site).
• The IRS automated refund hotline, which you reach via the main IRS phone system listed on the government website.

For state refunds, you typically have:

• A state refund status lookup tool on your state’s official .gov tax or revenue website.
• A state tax agency customer service line for refund questions, shown on that same site or on your state tax instructions.

To avoid scams, search for your state’s official department of revenue portal and make sure the site address ends with “.gov”, not a commercial domain, and never share your Social Security number on unofficial sites.

2. What you’ll typically need before you check

To get any meaningful refund status information, you will usually need to match exactly what’s on your filed tax return.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Copy of your filed tax return (Form 1040 and any state return) to see your exact refund amount and filing status.
• Social Security card or another record with your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), to avoid mistyping.
• Acknowledgment or e-file confirmation from your tax software or preparer, which often shows the date your return was accepted by the IRS or state.

Most online refund tools and phone systems will ask you for three pieces of information:

1. Your SSN or ITIN.
2. Your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.).
3. The exact whole-dollar amount of your expected refund for the tax year you’re asking about.

If you filed a paper return by mail, you usually need to wait longer before your information even appears in the refund system, sometimes four weeks or more, depending on the year and processing backlogs.

3. Step-by-step: How to check your refund status today

A. Federal refund (IRS)

1. Gather your information.
   Have your Form 1040, your SSN/ITIN, your filing status, and your exact refund amount in front of you.

2. Use the official IRS refund status tool.
   Go to the official IRS website (ending in .gov) and open the refund status or “Where’s My Refund?” page; enter the requested information exactly as shown on your return.

3. If you prefer phone, call the IRS refund hotline.
   Call the IRS main toll-free number listed on the government site and follow prompts to the automated refund status line, then enter your SSN, filing status, and refund amount.

4. What to expect next (online or phone).
   The system typically tells you one of a few messages, such as “Return received,” “Refund approved,” or “Refund sent”, and may show a projected deposit or mailing date once approved; it may also note if more information is needed or if your return is still being processed without a date yet.

5. If your status hasn’t updated in several weeks, plan your next step.
   If the tool or hotline shows no update for longer than the timeframe listed on the site (for example, 21 days after e‑filing), note the message shown and be prepared to call the IRS for a live representative or schedule a Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment if your issue is complex (like an offset or identity verification).

A simple phone script you can use when you reach an IRS agent:
“I’m calling to check on the status of my federal refund for tax year [year]. I’ve already checked the online tool, which says [exact message]. Can you tell me what the next step is on my account?”

B. State refund

1. Find your state’s official tax site.
   Search for “[Your State] tax refund status .gov” and select the official department of revenue/taxation site.

2. Open the state refund status tool.
   Look for wording like “Check my refund,” “Where’s my refund,” or “Refund status”, and click that section.

3. Enter your state-specific details.
   Most states will ask for your SSN, filing status, and refund amount, but some also require a return confirmation number or exact filing date, which you can find on your return or your e‑file receipt.

4. What to expect after you submit.
   The tool typically shows whether your return is received, processing, approved, or sent, and some states list an estimated date; if your refund is being reviewed, you may see a message directing you to wait or respond to a mailed notice.

If the state tool says your refund was issued but you didn’t receive it, the site usually provides instructions to request a trace or reissue, which may involve submitting a form or written request.

4. What happens after you check: typical timelines and follow-ups

For federal e-filed returns, the IRS refund tool commonly updates within 24 hours–3 days after your return is accepted, and after that it may show “refund approved” and then “refund sent” with a date once processing finishes.
For paper returns, the refund tool often doesn’t show anything until at least 4 weeks after you mail it, and some years processing is slower due to backlogs.

If the system says your refund was offset (used to pay other debts like student loans, back taxes, or child support), you typically receive a separate mailed notice explaining what was taken and which agency received the money.
If the message says the IRS needs more information or sent a letter, you should watch your mail for a notice number and follow the instructions, which may include verifying your identity or sending documentation.

For state refunds, many states post average processing times (for example, “up to 4 weeks for e‑filed, 8–12 weeks for paper”), but these are estimates, not guarantees, and rules and timelines may vary by location and situation.
If your refund is delayed beyond the posted timeframe, the official instructions often tell you to call the state tax agency or, in rare cases, submit an inquiry form.

5. Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for
A very common delay happens when the refund amount you enter in the status tool does not exactly match the amount on your processed return, which can occur if the IRS or state adjusted your refund for math issues, missing forms, or offsets; in that case, the online tool may show generic “still processing” messages for weeks. Once you receive and review the adjustment or offset notice by mail, use the new, adjusted refund amount when checking status or contact the agency listed on the notice for clarification.

6. When you might need in-person or extra help (and how to get it safely)

If your refund is stuck, you’ve received a complex notice, or your situation involves identity theft or multiple years of unfiled returns, you may need more than the online tool.

Legitimate help options include:

• IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC): Local offices that handle account problems and identity verification; you typically must call the IRS first to request an appointment rather than walking in.
• State tax agency walk-in or appointment offices: Some states have local revenue/taxation offices that can pull up your account and explain a refund delay or adjustment.
• IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites: Community locations where trained volunteers can help you understand notices or check status online, often serving low- to moderate-income taxpayers.
• Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs): Independent organizations that may help eligible taxpayers with disputes or audits related to IRS decisions about your return or refund.

When searching for help, look for offices and email addresses ending in .gov and confirm phone numbers against the official government site, not a random search engine ad.
Avoid anyone who promises to speed up your refund for a fee, asks you to send your entire refund to them, or wants your full Social Security number over email or text—those are common fraud red flags.

Your most practical next action today is to pull out your most recent tax return, write down your SSN/ITIN, filing status, and exact refund amount, then use your federal or state official refund status tool to see the current message; based on that message, either wait within the normal timeframe, watch for a mailed notice, or call the listed agency number if your refund is beyond the posted processing window.