When Will I Get My 2025 Tax Refund? Key Dates and How to Track

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The IRS issues most refunds less than 21 days after filing. So generally, you can expect to get your tax refund within about three weeks if you filed your tax return electronically, and sometimes faster when you choose direct deposit.

If you file a complete and accurate paper return, it can take six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives the return.

2025 IRS Tax Refund Timeline Estimations

This table can help you determine when you’ll get your refund based on how you filed:

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the tax refund process.

Key Dates for the 2025 Tax Season

Mark your calendar for these key tax deadlines in 2025.

How To Track Your Tax Refund

The IRS website offers a “Where’s My Refund?” tool that enables you to track your refund after you’ve filed your income tax return. The tool will show your refund’s status about 24 hours after you file.

You can also track your refund through the IRS2Go app. You will see one of the following statuses on the site:

1. Return received
2. Refund approved
3. Refund sent

What You’ll Need

To track your refund, you’ll need your Social Security number, your filing status and the exact amount of your refund.

For filing status, you’ll have to choose from the following options:

• Single
• Married-Filing Joint Return
• Married-Filing Separate Return
• Head of Household
• Qualifying Widow(er)

Providing all of these personal details helps protect your information and avoids anyone else accessing your tax return data.

Typically, you can start tracking your return one day after you file if you submit your return electronically. But if you mail in a paper tax return, it takes about one month.

How To Get Your Tax Refund Faster

No matter how you plan on using your tax refund, you’re probably anxious to receive it. Here are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of getting your tax refund quickly:

• File early: In general, the sooner you file, the sooner you will get your refund.
• Check your return for errors or omissions: When the IRS needs to contact you for additional information, it slows down how quickly you receive your refund.
• Use e-file to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account: With direct deposit, it might take a few days for the refund to show up in your account, depending on your financial institution.
• Make sure your direct deposit account is in your name: The IRS can only deposit a check into an account in your name, your spouse’s name or a joint account.

Note that returns claiming certain tax credits might not get processed any earlier than late February. Specifically, taxpayers taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit may have to go through this wait.

What If You File Your Taxes Late?

Filing late might incur some expensive consequences. If the IRS owes you a refund, filing late generally won’t hurt you.

However, if you owe taxes, you will be penalized for both filing and paying late. You’ll be charged a 5% penalty of the tax you owe up to 25% based on how late you file.

If you owe money, you’ll be charged 0.5% of the taxes you owe for each month you’re late. If you file and pay late, the fees will be reduced.

Request an Extension

Some people need more time to file taxes. If you’re e-filing, you can file for an extension for free using the IRS’s Free File. Paper filers will need to submit Form 4868 to get a six-month extension on their tax deadline. The deadline to request an extension is the tax filing due date — April 15, 2025. This gives you until October 15, 2025, to file without penalties.

This strategy helps you avoid being penalized for filing your taxes late, but note that the form doesn’t extend the time to pay taxes. If you wind up owing taxes after the extension, you will still be penalized.

Why Your Tax Refund Might Be Delayed

The IRS lists the following issues that might extend the tax refund processing time and delay your refund:

• Amended return refunds take about 16 weeks.
• You’re filing an injured spouse claim.
• You’re renewing an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

There’s also a three refunds-per-year limit on the number of direct deposits going into a single account.

To avoid a delay in the future, consider changing your tax withholding for next year. That way, instead of waiting for a refund for overpaying your taxes all year, you’ll keep that cash in your pocket every paycheck. Just make sure you don’t overcorrect and end up owing taxes.

When To Call the IRS To Check Tax Refund Status

Still feeling a bit anxious about when to expect your return? The IRS recommends you only call them if:

• It’s been more than 21 days since you e-filed.
• It’s been six weeks or more since you mailed your returns.
• The “Where’s My Refund” tool tells you to contact the IRS.

Make sure you have your Social Security number or your ITIN handy when you reach out to the IRS.

When Can I Expect My State Tax Refund?

State and federal taxes are separate filing processes. When expecting a refund from your state government, the exact timeline varies based on several factors, including your specific state. Just like with your federal tax return, the processing time is usually much less if you file electronically with your state.

To check on the progress of your state tax return, find the contact information for your state’s department of taxation. You’ll likely need personally-identifying information to receive specifics on your tax refund, including your Social Security number and your refund amount.

Also, note that some states are implementing refunds through debit cards rather than checks or direct deposits, to make it easier for people who don’t have a bank account.

Should You Consider Refund Anticipation Loans?

Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) are loans offered through third-party companies — tax preparers, CPAs or banks — based on and repaid by your anticipated federal income tax refund.

On the positive side, this is a way to receive your money more quickly and pay the loan back when you receive your official tax refund. The downside is that you must pay it back, typically with a relatively high interest rate with some lenders. Another potential downside is that there’s potential debt if your tax refund is delayed or not enough to cover the balance.

Josephine Nesbit and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

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