Updated: Nov. 26, 2024
Thanksgiving and Christmas are here, and that means the end of the year is coming up soon, and tax season will follow soon after. Although Americans dislike the IRS and bemoan taxes, many millions actually look forward to getting a tax refund, and start thinking of how they will spend it. Vacation time? Pay off bills?
[Jump to the estimated refund date chart below or just scroll down.]
First, keep in mind that the IRS usually starts accepting e-filed income tax returns in the last week of January each year, with the deadline to file returns being April 15 (which sometimes varies based on weekends or state holidays).
If you’re wondering how long it may take to get your refund when you finally submit your income tax return, you’re not alone. In fact, for almost 15 years, the question we get the most often has been: “When will I get my tax refund?” Nobody can give you an exact answer, especially this far out, but we can give you a pretty good estimate based on a few factors, and the collective experience of the CPA Practice Advisor team.
Short Answer: Depending on when taxpayers file their returns, they can often receive their federal tax refund payment (check or direct deposit) within 10-21 days. If the IRS starts accepting returns at the end of January, as is usual, that means that someone who is able to file right away and are a due a refund, can often see the refund as early as mid- or late February if they have it direct deposited. That’s without an expensive “tax refund loan” or other similar product.
However: With a new presidential administration, Congress and Senate in office near the end of January, there could possibly be last-minute changes to tax laws, which would likely delay the start of tax season, since software and paper products would have to be updated. However, as this would happen so late in January, it is not that likely for this coming tax filing season.
If you have multiple forms of income or certain assets, or certain family situations, you will likely have to wait a bit longer for all of your tax documents to come in before you are able to file. In particular, taxpayers with the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and a few other credits generally have their refunds delayed by about one month while the IRS confirms eligibility for these credits.
[Jump to the estimated refund date chart below or just scroll down.]
If you’ve had major income changes this year, had a child, got married or divorced, retired, bought a house, or changed investments, or made any other significant life changes, you should definitely seek the advice of a tax professional like a CPA or EA in order to make sure you are complying with tax laws and also taking advantage of new or lesser known tax deductions and credits that could benefit you.
One bit of great news is that the IRS has been been implementing technologies and that it says will help with processing tax returns faster than in the last few years, when it was still struggling to overcome issues related to the pandemic and backlogs of returns.
So, here’s the chart you were looking for. If the IRS announces any changes to tax law or potential date changes, we will update this chart. And remember: This is only an estimate of when to expect your refund.
Do not take these dates as exact predictions, as all taxpayers have different tax returns, documents, incomes, and other situations. Note that the first column is when the IRS “accepts” your return, which can be 2-3 days after the day you submitted it electronically, and the IRS will notify you of the actual date on which the agency “accepted” your return. Mailing in a paper return can result in 3-4 weeks’ extra delay at the beginning of the process, since the IRS will need to enter it into their computer systems manually.
Estimated 2025 IRS Income Tax Return Chart
| If the IRS Accepts an E-Filed Return By: | Then Direct Deposit refund may be received as early as 10 days after e-file accepted. (E-filed, but paper check mailed apx. 1 week after that): |
|---|---|
| * IRS may start accepting returns on Jan. 27, 2025. | |
| *Jan. 27, 2025 | Feb. 7 (Feb. 14)** |
| Feb. 3 | Feb. 14 (Feb. 21)** |
| Feb. 10 | Feb. 21 (Feb. 28)** |
| Feb. 17 | Feb. 28 (Mar. 7)** |
| Feb. 24 | Mar. 7 (Mar. 14) |
| Mar. 3 | Mar. 14 (Mar. 21) |
| Mar. 10 | Mar. 21 (Mar. 28) |
| Mar. 17 | Mar. 28 (Apr. 4) |
| Mar. 24*** | Apr. 4 (Apr. 11)*** |
| Mar. 31*** | Apr. 11 (Apr. 18)*** |
| Apr. 7 *** | Apr. 18 (Apr. 25)*** |
| Apr. 14*** | Apr. 25 (May 2)*** |
* = Estimated date the IRS may start accepting e-filed tax returns.
** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until March to verify credits.
*** = Filing during peak season (late March through April 15) can result in slightly longer waits.
| IRS Accepts Return By: | Direct Deposit Sent (Or Paper Check Mailed one week later) |
|---|---|
| Apr. 21 | May 2 (May 9) |
| Apr. 28 | May 9 (May 16) |
| May 5 | May 16 (May 23) |
| May 12 | May 23 (May 30) |
| May 19 | May 30 (June 6) |
If your IRS income tax refund is delayed after you’ve filed, ask your tax professional, or simply use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website to check the status of your refund. Or you can download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status. It’s a good idea to e-file your tax return as soon as you have all of your tax documents (like your W2, 1099s, mortgage and student loan interest, and other items) as e-filing generally ensures a faster turnaround time.
Several factors can determine when a taxpayer might receive his or her tax refund, including:
- How early the return is filed;
- If the taxpayer is claiming certain credits (especially EITC and CTC);
- Whether the return is e-filed or sent by mail;
- Whether the taxpayer has existing debts to the federal government.
Be Safe – Hire a Professional
Taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for the estimated date of their tax refund, and they can be more confident that their taxes have been properly (and legally) filed.
There are also apps for Apple, Android and other devices that help track refund status.
What If You Can’t File Your Income Taxes By April 15?
Any taxpayer who can’t file their return by April 15 for any reason (such as they don’t have all of the paperwork needed in order to file their taxes) can easily file an extension form, “Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.” (Link to IRS Form 4868.) Any tax pro can help you with this, as well. This will give the taxpayer until October 15, 2025, to file the federal tax return. No reason or excuse is needed to receive this extension, and as the title states, it is automatically granted. Be sure to check the extension rules for your particular state as the extension date may differ from the date for the federal return extension.
Note that if a person will owe taxes with the tax return, it is still that taxpayer’s obligation to pay those taxes by April 15, 2025, even if an extension to file has been requested. A tax professional can assist with this payment process. Those who are due a refund generally only need to file the extension request by April 15, 2025. Any tax professional and most do-it-yourself tax programs can perform this task.
Last Minute Tax Tips for the End of 2024:
- 12 year-end tax tips for 2024 (From Fidelity Investments)
- 4 Last-Minute Ways to Reduce Your Taxes (From Intuit TurboTax)
Tax Refund Estimators:
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/taxcaster/
- https://www.taxact.com/tools/tax-calculator
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Tags: Income Tax, IRS, Taxes
