The short answer to how long it takes the IRS to process your tax refund is “It depends.” Factors like the accuracy of your tax return and whether you electronically filed it affects the time the IRS needs to review the tax return and process your refund.
Want to receive your refund fast?
Indeed, you can speed up the process by electronically filing your tax return and choosing direct deposit. According to the IRS, the IRS anticipates processing refunds within 21 days of when the taxpayer files electronically. Otherwise, the processing could take six to eight weeks.
Can i check the status of my refund?
Yes. You can check the status on the IRS.gov website – Where’s My Refund?
Common reasons for delays
Filing paper returns
Generally, it takes time for the IRS and state tax authorities to manually process tax returns (sometimes months). For this reason, the IRS encourages taxpayers to avoid paper returns whenever possible.
Requesting a mailed check instead of direct deposit
Direct deposit is the quickest way for the IRS and state authorities to process your refund. Paper checks require additional time for a staff member to process them. Also, the paper check may get lost in the mail.
Filing an inaccurate tax return
Equally important, error corrections or further review by the IRS and state tax authorities of your tax return may not only delay your refund, but you may also incur penalties and interest if your taxable income was understated. Moreover, tax audits are stressful and time-consuming. One way to ensure filing an accurate tax return and avoiding audits is to let a tax professional prepare and file your tax return.
