Tax Refund Schedule

If you filed your tax return and are getting a refund, you might be wondering when that extra cash will hit your account. This article provides you with an estimated tax refund schedule and details about tax refunds.

Who Qualifies for a Tax Refund

An individual qualifies for a refund on their federal or state income tax return when the amount of payments they made (either income tax withheld from their wages or estimated payments they made during the year) plus any refundable tax credits they claim is more than the calculated tax based on their taxable income for the year.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Tax Refund

Electronically filed returns that request direct deposit

If an individual chooses to have their federal refund direct deposited to their bank account, it will be deposited within 21 days from the time their electronic return is accepted by the IRS. See the tax refund schedule calendar below for an estimate on what day you might receive your tax refund in your account.

Paper filed returns that request direct deposit

If an individual chooses to have their federal refund direct deposited to their bank account, it will be deposited within 21 days from the time their paper federal return is received by the IRS. See the tax refund schedule calendar below for an estimate on what day you might receive your tax refund in your account.

Tax refunds via check

If the individual requests their refund be sent to them by check, it will take a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks for them to receive their refund in the mail at the address that is on their federal return. See the tax refund schedule calendar below for an estimate on what day you might receive your tax refund check in the mail.

Individual’s may check the status of their refund by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website.

Tax Refund Calendar

Below is an estimated tax refund schedule based on the IRS’s approximate direct deposit and paper check distribution times. It is important to remember that the IRS cannot issue a refund until mid-February for federal tax returns filed early in the filing season that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit.

Why Haven’t I Got My Tax Refund

An individual’s federal refund may be delayed for the following reasons:

• The return contains errors, is incomplete, or needs special processing
• The return is impacted by identity theft or fraud

For federal returns that are filed early in the filing season and are claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS cannot issue a refund until mid-February.

An individual may check on the status of their refund by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website.

State and Federal Refunds

How Long Does It Take to Get a State Tax Refund

The amount of time it takes for an individual to receive their State income tax refund varies for each State.

Due to State concerns regarding fraudulent returns being filed due to identity theft, most States do not give an estimated time when an individual can expect to receive their state income tax refund.

Individuals should check their State Department of Revenue website for information on when taxpayers may receive their State income tax refund.

When Will I Get My Federal Tax Refund

If an individual chooses to have their federal refund direct deposited to their bank account, it will be deposited within 21 days from the time their electronic return is accepted by the IRS.

If an individual chooses to have their federal refund direct deposited to their bank account, it will be deposited within 21 days from the time their paper federal return is received by the IRS.

If the individual requests their refund be sent to them by check, it will take 6 to 8 weeks for them to receive their refund in the mail at the address that is on their federal return.

Individual’s may check the status of their refund by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website.

CrossLink Professional Tax Software

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