How long does it take for direct deposit tax return

If you e-filed your return, you can expect to receive a faster refund through direct deposit rather than if you mailed in your tax documents. The IRS states that paper tax returns are mailed out within 6 to 8 weeks, while those filed electronically will be issued in less than 3 weeks, and again, even faster if using direct deposit

Choosing to receive your refund as a paper check will definitely slow down the process; therefore, if you are looking to get your money faster, e-filing and choosing direct deposit is the way to go. Although direct deposit is much faster, you should still expect to wait a few extra days for the funds to be available in your account. Depending on your financial institution, your waiting time may vary. To e-file, you may want to consider filing online through reliable websites like TurboTax, TaxAct, or E-file.

After e-filing your taxes, you will need to set up how you will receive your payment. Other than direct deposit, there are a few other options to choose from when you file electronically as to how to receive your refund, such as:

  • Receipt of a debit card holding the value of the refund
  • Purchase of up to $5,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds
  • Split of your refund amount into up to 3 financial accounts in your name
  • Contribution to a traditional IRA, Roth IRA, or SEP-IRA

If you’re a Chime member,  you can choose “direct deposit” on your tax return software. You then input your Chime Checking Account number and corresponding routing number, and that’s it!

From there, you just have to wait for your refund to show up in your account. Once your refund is available Chime will send you a text alert and email. This way you will know that the money is there the second you receive it.

When choosing your delivery option, remember that it will affect how quickly you receive your money. Again, direct deposit is known as the fastest and safest way to get your tax refund, and the IRS recommends this method to taxpayers across the board.

Tax Refund Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Deposit is a safe, reliable, and convenient way to receive Federal payments. The Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service and the Internal Revenue Service both encourage direct deposit of IRS tax refunds. Direct Deposit combined with IRS e-file provides taxpayers with the fastest and safest way to receive refunds.

This resource page of frequently asked questions about IRS tax refunds provides financial institutions with useful information for reference while assisting customers during the tax filing season.

For other FAQs about Direct Deposit, download the Direct Deposit FAQs.

Looking for Information About Your Tax Refund?

E-file and sign up for Direct Deposit to receive your refund faster, safer, and easier! You can check the status of your refund using IRS’ Where’s My Refund?

Not using e-file? You can still get all the benefits of Direct Deposit by getting your tax refund deposited into your account. Simply provide your banking information to the IRS at the time you are submitting your taxes.

Convenience, reliability and security. No more special trips to your institution to deposit your check — a nice feature if you are busy, ill, away from home, located far from a branch or in a place where parking is hard to find. You no longer need to wait for your check to arrive in the mail. Your money will always be in your account on time. If you move without changing financial institutions, you will not have to wait for your check to catch up with you. You do not have to worry about lost, stolen or misplaced checks.

Last modified 08/25/22

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How long does it take for direct deposit tax return

Once you’ve gone through the burdensome process of filing your taxes, your sigh of relief might be short-lived. That’s because you’ll likely be wondering, “How long does it take to get a tax refund?” But as excited as you may be to get that refund check from your federal income tax return, you may be disappointed with IRS processing times. So as you plan your budget for the year, you should know how long it will take to get your federal tax refund. If you want to go beyond taxes and build a comprehensive financial plan for your future, a financial advisor can help you put a financial plan together.

How Long Will My Tax Refund Take?

When you get your tax refund will depend largely on how you file your return. The fastest option is to e-file your return and to receive your refund via direct deposit. For 2021 taxes, which you will file in 2022, the majority of taxpayers who choose this option will receive their refunds within 21 days. That means your bank will have your refund within three weeks from the day the IRS accepts your tax return. Then it may take up to a few additional days for your bank to make the funds available to you.

If you file a paper return or if you want to receive your refund as a paper check, your return will take longer to process. Filing a paper return and receiving your refund as a paper check will take the longest to process at two months or more. So if you’re inclined to sit around asking, “How long does it take to get a tax refund?” you might want to consider e-filing, or at least direct deposit.

The table below will give you an idea of how long it typically takes to get a tax refund:

Federal Tax Refund Schedule
 Filing Method E-File, Direct Deposit Paper File, Direct Deposit E-File, Check in Mail Paper File, Check in Mail
Time from the day you file until you receive your refund* 1-3 weeks 3 weeks 1 month 2 months

*Note that these are just guidelines. Based on how you file, most filers can generally expect to receive a refund within these time frames.

For reference, here’s a detailed breakdown of when taxpayers received their refund in 2021:

2021 IRS Refund Schedule
Taxes Accepted Direct Deposit Paper Check
Week of February 13 February 26 March 5
Week of February 20 March 5 March 12
Week of February 27 March 12 March 19
Week of March 6 March 19 March 26
Week of March 13 March 26 April 2
Week of March 20 April 2 April 9
Week of March 27 April 9 April 16
Week of April 3 April 16 April 23
Week of April 10 April 23 April 30
Week of April 17 April 30 May 7
Week of April 24 May 7 May 14
Week of May 1 May 14 May 21
Week of May 8 May 21 May 28
Week of May 15 May 28 June 4
Week of May 22 June 4 June 11
Week of May 29 June 11 June 18
Week of June 5 June 18 June 25
Week of June 12 June 25 July 2
Week of June 19 July 2 July 9
Week of June 26 July 9 July 16
Week of July 3 July 16 July 23
Week of July 10 July 23 July 30
Week of July 17 July 30 August 6
Week of July 24 August 6 August 13
Week of July 31 August 13 August 20

Tax Returns That Include the EITC or ACTC

If you claimed either the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), you may have to wait a bit longer for your refund. Law requires the IRS to hold refunds from these returns until February 15. You shouldn’t expect the refund to hit your bank account until late February, according to the IRS. If you don’t elect for direct deposit or if there are problems with your return, you can expect the refund to take longer.

How to Check Your Tax Refund Status

How long does it take for direct deposit tax return

Are you the sort of person constantly wonders, “How long does it take to get a tax refund?” If you want to check the status of your federal tax refund, you can use the Where’s My Refund? on the IRS website. You can also access that tool on the IRS2Go mobile app. Your return’s status will usually be available within 24 hours if you file electronically. If you mailed a paper return, it will take at least four weeks before you can check the status of your return.

You’ll need three pieces of information to check your return’s status:

  • Your Social Security number (SSN)
  • Your filing status
  • The exact dollar amount of your expected refund

If you filed a return with the EITC or ACTC, the IRS says you can expect your refund status to update by late February.

Bottom Line

How long it takes to get your tax refund will depend on how and when you file your tax return. The best way to get your refund quickly is to e-file your return and elect to receive the refund by direct deposit. For the 2021 tax year, the IRS has said that the vast majority of e-filers (who also use direct deposit for refunds) will receive their refund within 21 days.

Sending a paper return or receiving your refund as a paper check will potentially slow down processing by months. The IRS also processes returns more slowly at the beginning and end of the tax season. That’s because the majority of taxpayers file during those times.

Tips for Getting Through Tax Season

How long does it take for direct deposit tax return

  • Taxes are just one aspect of your overall financial life. A financial advisor can help you plan your retirement, estate and optimize your tax strategy for all of your financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors in your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • If you still need to file your taxes, make sure to consider all of your filing options. Two of the largest tax-filing services are H&R Block and TurboTax. Both are easy-to-use and offer step-by-step guidance to help you maximize your return. Check out SmartAsset’s comparison of TurboTax and H&R Block to see which one is better for you.
  • State governments use their own systems for handling tax returns. In some states you’ll get your refund within a couple of days, while other states will take weeks or months for processing. Learn how to check your state tax refund status.
  • If you find yourself relying on your tax refund to make ends meet, you may be able to make some changes to your tax withholding. Claiming more or fewer allowances on your W-4 will impact how much tax your employer removes from checks. Withholding less in taxes will mean more take home pay. If you receive a big refund come tax time, there may be room for you to increase your allowances.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/fstop123, ©iStock.com/Eva-Katalin, ©iStock.com/alex_skp

Derek Silva, CEPF® Derek Silva is determined to make personal finance accessible to everyone. He writes on a variety of personal finance topics for SmartAsset, serving as a retirement and credit card expert. Derek is a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®). He has a degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has spent time as an English language teacher in the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The message Derek hopes people take away from his writing is, “Don’t forget that money is just a tool to help you reach your goals and live the lifestyle you want.”

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