Tax Return and Tax Refund Status

The IRS Where's My Refund tool provides the tax refund status for the last 3 tax years.

Once you have e-filed your return on eFile.com, your tax return status will change to Accepted by the IRS. If your return got Rejected by the IRS - not eFile.com - it's most due to a technical issue e.g. previous AGI amount miss-match etc. Most of the rejections can easily be corrected and then re-efiled for acceptance. Rejections are not the result of for example un-reported taxable income, incorrectly claimed dependents etc. If you ever wondered why the IRS is delaying your tax return view this tax return road map for a better understanding which steps a tax return might go through.

Tax Return, Refund Steps

Steps

Description

1. Prepared, eFiled your Return(s)

After you have prepared and e-Filed your returns. Tip: Don't rush it and make sure you have gathered all your Forms before you e-Filed. Sign to your eFile.com account

2. Your eFile.com Tax Return Status

A: Check your tax return on eFile.com (only if you prepared and e-filed at eFile.com). If you e-filed your tax return at a different site, sign in to your account on that site; eFile.com cannot provide tax return status information for other websites or tax offices.
B: Sign in to your existing eFile.com account and you will see the status of your prepared and e-filed tax return:

Not e-filed | In Progress
Pending
Accepted
Rejected

C: If your return got rejected, most likely for a minor technical data miss-match, you can correct any errors and e-file again until your return is accepted at no additional charge. In case of an IRS rejection - not by eFile.com - we will provide you detailed instructions on how to correct your return. The rejection reason is stated and you will be given details as well as a link to fix the issue. For specific assistance, contact eFile.com support so we can guide you through the required corrections.
In summary: Once you e-Filed your Return(s) you will receive an email on the IRS acceptance status, or sign in to your eFile.com account and check if you indeed e-filed your IRS and if applicable state tax return. After sign in click on the upper left link My Return and see the status on the right side page. Generally, you can get tax refund information 72 hours after the IRS has acknowledged the receipt of your e-filed tax return, or three-to-four weeks after mailing a paper tax return.

3. Your IRS Tax Refund Status

Make sure you have a copy of your tax return handy. You can find this in your My Account on eFile.com, as you will need to provide the following information from your tax return:

Your Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
Your filing status (single, married filing joint, married filing separate, head of household, or qualifying widower)
The exact whole dollar amount of your refund.

Then visit the Where's my refund? lookup tool.
The IRS where's my refund lookup tool:

“depreciation”

The Where's My Refund lookup tool result page:

“depreciation”

If you have further IRS questions about the status of your return, you can also call the IRS Tax Assistance Hotline: 1-800-829-1040 (Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time).

State Status

Where's my state refund?

A tax refund is any tax you overpaid during a tax year combined with tax credits and can be returned via direct deposit, a prepaid debit card, or a mailed check. If you have certain past debts, the IRS may take or garnish your refund. See how to pay your due tax if you are not owed a refund.

Checking your Tax Refund Status

From 2020 to present, the IRS has seen extensive delays processing refunds due to several circumstances, including massively increased traffic through their webpages and IRS phone numbers.

Only after your tax return is accepted by the IRS can you expect your tax refund. How your refund is released by the IRS depends on which refund method you selected when you e-filed or filed your return.

1. Direct Bank Deposit: Your tax refund will be electronically transferred directly from the IRS (U.S. Treasury) to the bank account you entered during your tax preparation on eFile.com.

Go to this page to find your refund status and check in this order:

Tax refund dates in the table for different deposit methods
Your tax refund status via the lookup tool
Contact your bank or call the IRS Refund Hotline: 1-800-829-1954

Tip! e-Filing and selecting direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your refund.

2. Direct Deposit with e-Collect - Deduct Fee From Refund (DFFR): If you paid your tax preparation fee via e-Collect, your tax refund will be transferred from the IRS to the eFile.com e-Collect partner, EPS Financial, and then to your bank account, minus the tax preparation fee (for Deluxe or Premium service plus state preparation, if applicable). A service processing fee (e-Collect fee) of only $24.95 will be charged for this service. This fee is charged by EPS Financial, not eFile.com, and will be automatically deducted from your tax refund.

If you choose this option, you will need to visit the EPS website and create an account in order to check the status of your refund. Once you have an account, you will be able to track the status of your refund and the expected date of your deposit. Your funds will be transferred from the IRS to EPS, and then to your bank account (minus the $24.95 e-Collect fee).

Visit this page to find your refund status, then check the following:

Tax refund dates,
Tax refund status, and
The refund status with EPS via the link in the table: e-Collect Refund Status Lookup

Note: If you contacted the IRS and they informed you that your refund was transferred to a bank or a bank routing number different than the routing number of your bank, don't worry. The IRS and eFile are not banks, thus the e-Collect partner, EPS Financial, was instructed (with a unique routing number) to transfer your tax refund to your bank.

3. E1 Visa® Prepaid Card by Mail (Issued by EPS Financial): If you selected to have your tax preparation fee deducted from your expected tax refund, but you do not have a bank direct deposit account, you can select to have your refund put on an E1 Visa® Prepaid Card. You should expect to receive the card in the mail 7-10 business days after the IRS accepts your tax return. Once EPS processes your fees, the remainder of your refund will be deposited onto the card.

You can view this page to find your refund status before checking in this order:

View tax refund dates,
Get your tax refund status via the tool, and
Check your refund status with EPS

Note: If the IRS distributed your refund to a bank you do not recognize, this is the temporary bank account set up by EPS financial to process your refund and issue your refund.

4. IRS Check by Mail: Once your tax return has been received and processed, the IRS will issue you a paper check and send it through the post office. It generally takes about twice as long as direct deposit to receive your refund in the mail.

Check in this order on this page detailing your refund status:

Tax refund dates,
Tax refund status, then
Call the IRS refund hotline: 1-800-829-1954

If you have questions or concerns about obtaining your tax refund status, please contact eFile.com support.

Learn more about unclaimed tax refunds or tax refunds that did not reach the recipient. See different levels of tax preparation and e-filing services on eFile.com. Review how the eFile app works before you sign up for a free account to e-file your Tax Return.

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