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Income Tax

When Will You Get Your 2017 Income Tax Refund? IRS Says Delay for Late Refunds Is Almost Over

In an effort to fight fraud, the IRS delayed all returns with either of those credits this year. But the good news is, the IRS says it has started processing them and they should start being direct deposited the week of ...

Feb. 18, 2017

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Are you still waiting on your income tax refund? If you’re one of many Americans who are asking “When will I get my 2017 income tax refund from the IRS?” we have the answer.

If you’ve been waiting more than a couple of weeks, you probably had the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit (EITC or CITC). In an effort to fight fraud, the IRS delayed all returns with either of those credits this year. But the good news is, the IRS says it has started processing them and they should start being direct deposited the week of February 27.

The time frame of your refund can also depend on a couple of other things, but the good news is that there are several tools to help find out when you’ll probably get yours.

First of all, taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for an estimated date. Taxpayers who’ve already filed can also go to the Internal Revenue Service’s website, which has a tool designed specifically for that called, “Where’s My Refund?”

There are also apps for Apple, Android and other devices that help track refund status.

Note: The IRS started processing most returns on January 24 in 2017, but did not start processing returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until Feb. 15, 2017. If you filed early, this is probably the reason for the delay.

Here’s the chart:

 

 

This information is for income tax returns you filed in 2017 (technically for taxes paid/owed in 2016). In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing.

How quickly a taxpayer receives a refund also depends on when they file and whether they have requested a direct deposit of their refund, or a paper check. This is because during some time frames there is increased traffic, with more filers getting their forms in. The busiest time, and which can experience longer waits on refunds, is usually for those who file in the last week before the April 15 deadline.

The chart above provides a general estimate of when taxpayers can expect their refund, based on date filed and type of refund payment.