How long does it take for irs to approve refund after it is accepted stimulus

When Will I Get My Tax Refund?

How soon you’ll receive your tax refund will vary depending on how and when you file your tax return, the accuracy of the information in your return and how you choose to receive your refund. You could see your refund in as little as 21 days.

How long does it take for irs to approve refund after it is accepted stimulus

  • Written By

    Jennifer Schell

    Jennifer Schell

    Financial Writer

    Jennifer Schell joined Annuity.org in 2022. She is a professional writer with more than three years of experience creating content for a variety of industries ranging from travel to tax accounting. She combines her strong writing skills and her passion for educating others to write engaging and informative financial content for Annuity.org.

    Read More

  • Edited By

    Emily Miller

    How long does it take for irs to approve refund after it is accepted stimulus

    Emily Miller

    Managing Editor

    Managing editor Emily Miller is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience as a researcher, writer and editor. Throughout her professional career, Emily has covered education, government, health care, crime and breaking news for media organizations in Florida, Washington, D.C. and Texas. She joined the Annuity.org team in 2016.

    Read More

  • Financially Reviewed By

    Chip Stapleton

    How long does it take for irs to approve refund after it is accepted stimulus

    Chip Stapleton

    Financial Advisor

    Chip Stapleton is a financial advisor who has spent the past several years of his career working primarily in financial planning and wealth management. He is a FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 license holder and CFA Level II candidate.

    Read More

  • Updated: September 20, 2022
  • This page features 12 Cited Research Articles

Fact Checked

Annuity.org partners with outside experts to ensure we are providing accurate financial content.

These reviewers are industry leaders and professional writers who regularly contribute to reputable publications such as the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Our expert reviewers review our articles and recommend changes to ensure we are upholding our high standards for accuracy and professionalism.

Our expert reviewers hold advanced degrees and certifications and have years of experience with personal finances, retirement planning and investments.

Cite Us

APA Schell, J. (2022, September 20). When Will I Get My Tax Refund? Annuity.org. Retrieved October 13, 2022, from https://www.annuity.org/personal-finance/taxes/when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund/

MLA Schell, Jennifer. "When Will I Get My Tax Refund?" Annuity.org, 20 Sep 2022, https://www.annuity.org/personal-finance/taxes/when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund/.

Chicago Schell, Jennifer. "When Will I Get My Tax Refund?" Annuity.org. Last modified September 20, 2022. https://www.annuity.org/personal-finance/taxes/when-will-i-get-my-tax-refund/.

Tax Refund Schedule (2021 Tax Year)

The 2022 tax filing season, in which returns for the 2021 tax year are processed, began on Jan. 24, and the deadline to file your return is April 18.

The first step toward getting your refund is to file your tax return. To do so, you’ll need to gather identification and a W-2 statement from your employer or other earning statements like 1099 forms.

If you’re married, you need to choose whether you’ll file separate returns or a joint return. You’ll also have to decide how you’ll file your return — whether you’ll take it to a preparer or file it yourself using tax preparation software.

Once you file your return, the IRS will review it and approve or reject your return. If your return is approved and you are owed a refund, you should receive it in a matter of weeks. If your return is rejected, the IRS will notify you and let you know the next steps to correcting your return.

Refunds for the 2021 tax year are already being processed and sent out to taxpayers all over the country. According to the IRS, as of Feb. 4 over 4 million refunds had been issued.

How Long Does It Take To Get Your Tax Refund?

Many Americans look forward to receiving their tax refund each year to help make important personal finance decisions, and you may be wondering how soon you’ll get yours. The time it takes to receive your tax refund can vary based on several factors, including when and how you file your tax return.

According to the IRS, the best way to avoid delays on your tax refund is to file an accurate tax return using e-file software to file electronically and opting to receive your refund via direct deposit. Most filers who use this method should receive their refunds within 21 days of submitting their return online.

If you mail your return, you can expect to receive your refund in about six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives your return. You can choose to receive your refund as a check in the mail, but keep in mind that you will likely receive your refund anywhere from a few days to a few weeks later than you would have with direct deposit due to transit time.

Whether filed electronically or on paper, all returns are opened and processed by the IRS in the order they are received, so the earlier you file your taxes, the earlier you’ll receive a refund.

How long does it take for irs to approve refund after it is accepted stimulus

Join Thousands of Other Personal Finance Enthusiasts

Because missing out on important news and updates could cost you.

How Long Does It Take the IRS To Approve a Refund?

The IRS reports that most returns are processed and approved within a few days of when they are received, and most refunds are issued less than 21 days after the return is received.

If you filed weeks ago and still haven’t received your return, there could be several reasons why you’re experiencing a delay. The most common causes for tax refund delays include simple math errors, inaccurate or missing information and missing signatures or attachments.

Tax returns with errors involving the third stimulus check, which was issued in early 2021, or returns that are missing information or have been flagged as suspected fraud or theft could be delayed for up to 90 to 120 days.

Taxpayers who claim the earned income tax credit (EITC) or the child tax credit (CTC) may also experience delays in receiving their refunds, even if their returns were filed accurately. Claiming these credits will slow down the processing of your return because of regulations designed to give the IRS time to deal with fraudulent returns. Even if you filed your return before Jan. 24, the first day the IRS began processing returns, you may not receive your refund until early March.

Federal Tax Brackets

Is There a Delay on 2022 Tax Refunds?

Last year, many taxpayers ended up waiting longer than the usual 21 days — some as long as eight weeks — to receive their refunds as the IRS was dealing with the backlog of returns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IRS is still working through this backlog of 2020 tax returns. Because of this, many tax experts expect that some refunds will be delayed this year.

You can check your tax return status online using the IRS’ Where’s My Refund? tool. To use this tool, you’ll need the following information:

  • Your Social Security number or ITIN
  • Your filing status
  • Your exact refund amount

The tool can tell you the status of your refund from 24 hours after you e-file, or four weeks after you mail your return. The system is updated each day, usually overnight.

You can also call the IRS TeleTax System at 1-800- 829-4477 to check the status of your refund over the phone. Be aware that the volume of calls trying to reach IRS representatives is at an all-time high, and the IRS recommends that you do not attempt to call until 21 days after you e-file or four weeks after you mail your return.

How can you get a bigger tax refund?

Making sure you claim dependents and take advantage of all available tax credits can help you maximize your refund. Talking to a CPA or tax professional can give you personalized tax advice for your specific situation on how much tax you’ll get back.

When will child tax credit refunds be issued?

If you applied for the expanded child tax credit on your tax return, you may receive your refund later than expected. This is because the IRS is unable to issue refunds involving the additional child tax credit before mid-February. This delay is designed to give the IRS additional time to stop refund fraud.

When should I hire a tax attorney?

You may need to hire a tax attorney for a variety of business affairs or life events. Consider involving an attorney if you are being audited, want to leave money for your heirs, or are buying, selling or starting a business.

Advertisement

Connect With a Financial Advisor Instantly

Our free tool can help you find an advisor who serves your needs. Get matched with a financial advisor who fits your unique criteria. Once you’ve been matched, consult for free with no obligation.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Last Modified: September 20, 2022

  • Previous Topic Tax Refund Estimate
  • Next Topic Taxes When You Are Self-Employed

12 Cited Research Articles

Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.

  1. Kerr, E. (2022, January 6). (2022, January 6). How to Get the Biggest Tax Refund in 2022. Retrieved from https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/how-to-get-the-biggest-tax-refund-this-year
  2. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, February 17). Top 5 Things To Remember When Filing Income Tax Returns in 2022. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/top-5-things-to-remember-when-filing-income-tax-returns-in-2022
  3. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, February 17). Where’s My Refund? Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/refunds
  4. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, February 14). Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions
  5. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, February 11). Filing Season Statistics for Week Ending February 04, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-season-statistics-for-week-ending-february-04-2022
  6. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, February 8). IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical Functions Continue. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue
  7. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, January 24). IRS Begins 2022 Tax Season; Urges Extra Caution for Taxpayers to File Accurate Tax Returns Electronically To Speed Refunds, Avoid Delays. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-begins-2022-tax-season-urges-extra-caution-for-taxpayers-to-file-accurate-tax-returns-electronically-to-speed-refunds-avoid-delays
  8. Internal Revenue Service. (n.d.) Refunds – How Long Should They Take? Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/at-01-48.pdf
  9. Picchi, A. (2022, February 16). Here’s How Long It Will Take To Get Your Tax Refund in 2022. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tax-refund-when-get-irs-returns-2022-02-16/
  10. Tompor, S. (2021, April 27). Where Is My Tax Refund and Why Is It Taking So Long to Get This Year? Some IRS Refunds Are Taking 6-8 Weeks. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2021/04/22/where-is-2021-tax-refund-how-long-does-irs-take/7333786002/
  11. USA.gov. (2022, January 24). How to File Your Federal Taxes. Retrieved from https://www.usa.gov/file-taxes
  12. Williams, G. (2018, October 2). Do You Need a Tax Attorney? Retrieved from https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/taxes/articles/2018-10-02/do-you-need-a-tax-attorney

How long does it take for IRS to approve refund after it is accepted electronically?

If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date IRS receives your return. If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit.

How long does it take for IRS to approve refund after it is accepted 2022?

How quickly will I get my refund? (updated July 7, 2022) We issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, if you filed on paper and are expecting a refund, it could take six months or more to process your return.

Does accepted mean my refund is approved?

Accepted means your tax return has passed a verification that reviews your basic information. This typically involves social security information for the taxpayer and dependents and more. It does not mean your return is approved. Continue to watch the status of your return for additional information.

How long after your taxes are approved do you get your stimulus check?

You will most likely get the Recovery Rebate Credit as part of your tax refunds. If you electronically file your tax return, you will likely receive your refund within 3 weeks. If you mail your return, it can take at least 8 weeks to receive your refund.