The IRS begins accepting 2025 returns on January 26, 2026, with approximately 140 million returns expected by the April 15 deadline. The average refund was $3,138 last filing season, with early filing being the fastest way to get your refund.
The IRS processes most e-filed returns and issues direct deposit refunds within 21 days of acceptance.
Below, you'll learn how to track your refund from acceptance to deposit.
The IRS no longer publishes a fixed refund calendar. Instead, it processes returns in the order they're received and issues refunds as each return clears review. Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit will help you get your refund faster.
In prior years, the IRS provided an estimated date for when you could anticipate your refund. However, in 2016, the IRS began a new tax audit system, which included more comprehensive fraud analysis. Now, because some returns require more time to be processed, the previous estimated refund schedule isn't as effective.
In place of the estimated refund date listed on the old tax refund schedule, the IRS now issues tax refunds at the rate at which they process them.
The IRS generally processes e-filed returns and issues refunds within 21 days of acceptance. Many arrive faster, within 7 to 10 days, for straightforward returns filed early in the season. Paper returns take six or more weeks to process.
The IRS processes returns continuously throughout the season. Filing during peak periods (late January through mid-February, and again in mid-April) may add a few days to your timeline.
Most refund delays fall into one of these categories:
If more than 21 days have passed since your e-filed return was accepted and your status hasn't changed to Refund Approved, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1954.
The IRS Where's My Refund tool shows your return's progress through three stages:
You can check your refund status within 24 hours of an e-filed return being accepted or within 4 weeks after mailing a paper return. Have these four pieces of information ready:
Enter these on the IRS website or in the IRS2Go app (available on iOS and Android). Use the exact amount from your filed return; a mismatch returns no results.
For the 2026 filing season, direct deposit is the default delivery method for nearly all individual refunds. Under Executive Order 14247, the IRS began phasing out paper refund checks for individual taxpayers beginning September 30, 2025.
Taxpayers who file without valid bank account information will receive a CP53E notice requesting deposit details, and their refund will be held until that information is provided or, if no response is received, released as a paper check after approximately six weeks.
Typically, the IRS begins accepting electronic filings towards the end of January. The busiest times for the IRS are late Jan to mid Feb and mid-April, so the earlier you file, the better. Filing early gets your refund faster, gives you time to plan if you owe, and keeps you ahead of the April 15 deadline. Note that employers have until January 31 to issue W-2s and 1099s, so you may need to wait until you have all your documents.
The IRS issues most e-filed refunds with direct deposit within 21 days of accepting your return, and many straightforward returns arrive in 7 to 10 days. Paper returns take six weeks or more. Returns that claim the EITC or ACTC cannot be released before mid-February under the PATH Act, regardless of when you file.
The new box 12 codes for qualified tips (code TP) and qualified overtime (code TT) are required on W-2s beginning with tax year 2026. Because these are new form fields, some employers may need additional time to comply, so if you receive tips or overtime, verify that your W-2 includes the new boxes before filing.
E-filing is the fastest way to get your refund. E-file.com prepares your federal and state returns with step-by-step questions and submits them directly to the IRS. Most e-filed returns with direct deposit are accepted within 24 hours and refunded within 21 days. File your 2025 federal return now.