As the 2026 tax season picks up steam, millions of Americans are already turning to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) “Where’s My Refund?” tool in hopes of tracking down the status of their anticipated tax refunds. With about 164 million individual income tax returns projected for the 2025 tax year, according to the IRS, the annual ritual of waiting and wondering about refund timing is in full swing. And this year, a few key changes and reminders are making the process more complex—and more important—than ever before.
The IRS officially began processing 2025 returns on January 26, 2026, and most taxpayers are expected to file electronically, as reported by USA Today and other outlets. While the bulk of refunds are typically released within 21 days of the IRS accepting an e-filed return, the agency is quick to caution that delays can and do happen for a variety of reasons. Factors like amended returns, errors, or claims for credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit can all slow things down, as noted by the Cincinnati Enquirer.
For those eager to know when their refund will land, the “Where’s My Refund?” tool—available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go mobile app—remains the go-to resource. According to information published on the IRS website and corroborated by the Hindustan Times, taxpayers can typically check their federal refund status within 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return, three to four days after e-filing a prior-year return, and about four weeks after mailing a paper return. The tool updates once daily, usually overnight, and is generally unavailable between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern Time due to routine system maintenance.
To access their refund status, filers must provide their Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of the expected refund. The tracker then displays the refund’s progress in three distinct phases: “Return Received,” “Refund Approved,” and “Refund Sent.” For direct deposits, it may take up to five days for the funds to show up in a bank account, while paper checks can take several weeks to arrive.
This year, the IRS has rolled out new procedures that give it the authority to put a temporary hold on refunds if direct deposit bank details are missing or invalid. As reported by the Associated Press, taxpayers who receive a CP53E notice—a letter sent when a direct deposit refund hits a snag—have a 30-day window to update their bank information online. If they miss that window, their refund defaults to a paper check, which can take much longer to arrive. IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano has encouraged filers to “speed the processing” by opting for e-filing and direct deposit, a sentiment echoed by tax professionals across the country.
“A lot of taxpayers still haven’t caught on to the change,” said Mitchell Gerstein, a senior tax adviser at Isdaner & Company in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, in an interview with the Associated Press. Jacob Cohen, a CPA in Philadelphia, added that those who don’t provide bank information may face weeks-long waits for their refunds, as the IRS continues to push for electronic payments.
There’s a broader federal push to phase out paper refund checks altogether. Executive Order 14247 has directed the move to electronic federal disbursements, which means paper checks for tax refunds will start to be phased out after September 30, 2025, wherever the law allows. The IRS points out that paper checks are “over 16 times more likely” to be lost, stolen, altered, or delayed compared to electronic methods, and mailed refunds can drag on for six weeks or longer.
For taxpayers who don’t have a standard bank account, the IRS reassures that many mobile apps and prepaid debit cards come with routing and account numbers suitable for direct deposit. Refunds can also be split among up to three separate financial accounts, which the agency claims can speed up the process compared to waiting for a paper check.
But the new system isn’t exactly forgiving. According to the IRS, taxpayers typically get a single chance to add or update their bank details online after receiving a CP53E notice. IRS staff cannot make changes to bank account details over the phone—everything must be handled online. And even after all corrections are made, refunds may still face “offset,” meaning they can be diverted toward certain unpaid debts, such as federal student loans or past-due child support.
The agency also warns against submitting duplicate returns, as doing so can actually delay processing rather than speed it up. Taxpayers are advised to refile only if they mailed a paper return more than six months ago, are due a refund, and the tracker does not show receipt of the return.
For those filing amended returns (using Form 1040-X), there’s a separate tool—“Where’s My Amended Return?”—to check the status, since amended return information isn’t available on the standard tracker. If a refund check is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a replacement claim can be filed online after 28 days from the mailing date.
State refunds, meanwhile, operate on their own timelines and systems. For example, the Alabama Department of Revenue doesn’t begin processing income tax refunds until March 1 each year. Taxpayers in Alabama can check their refund status at myalabamataxes.alabama.gov, using their Social Security number, the tax year, and their expected refund amount. For joint returns, the first Social Security number listed on the tax return must be entered. Once processed, the state’s online system will provide an update, and the Department of Revenue may contact filers directly if additional information is needed.
As for deadlines, the IRS reminds taxpayers that the due date to file federal income taxes for the 2025 tax year is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Those needing more time can request a six-month extension, pushing the filing deadline to October 15, 2026. However, any taxes owed must still be paid by the April deadline to avoid penalties and interest.
In summary, the path to a timely tax refund in 2026 is paved with attention to detail, especially when it comes to e-filing and providing accurate direct deposit information. With the IRS’s enhanced authority to freeze refunds for missing or incorrect banking details, and the looming phase-out of paper checks, taxpayers are urged to double-check their submissions and use the available tracking tools. It’s a process that rewards those who are proactive—and punishes those who overlook the details. As the IRS continues to modernize, the days of waiting by the mailbox for a paper check may soon be a thing of the past.