AS tax season winds down and Americans scramble to submit their last-minute returns, the IRS has revealed that millions of taxpayers are set to receive their highly anticipated tax refunds this week.
The government agency has already distributed over $200 billion in refunds to taxpayers, with more to come – and you can view your check status with a few easy steps.
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The 2025 tax season will officially come to a close for most Americans at midnight tonight, as today is the last day to file last year’s tax returns without facing penalties.
The April 15 deadline is only irrelevant for those who requested an extension or live in one of 13 states where the IRS extended the deadline due to natural disasters.
Once you submit your 2024 tax return, checking the status of your income tax refund is easy.
Taxpayers can simply use the Where’s My Refund? tool on the IRS website to view their refund status.
A refund timeline is generally available within 24 hours of filing your 2024 tax return electronically and within four weeks of filing a paper return.
A refund status will also appear three to four days after a taxpayer electronically files a return from a previous year.
In order to use the tool to verify the status of your refund, you will need three pieces of information, according to the IRS:
- Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
- Your filing status
- The exact refund amount on your return
The Where’s My Refund tool has three refund statuses:
- Return Received: the IRS has received your return and is processing it
- Refund Approved: the IRS approved your refund and is preparing to issue it by the date shown
- Refund Sent: the IRS sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take five days for it to appear in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail
The IRS updates refund statuses overnight once per day, so the Where’s My Refund tool is unavailable every morning, typically between 4 am and 5 am Eastern time.
BY THE NUMBERS
The IRS had received more than 101 million tax returns as of April 4, projecting that over 140 million individual returns will be submitted by impending federal income tax deadline.
The IRS had sent out nearly 68 million refunds as of April 4, with an average tax refund amount of $3,116 – a 3.5% increase from a $3,011 average this time during the 2024 filing season.
Americans have thus far received over $211 billion in tax refunds, but there is more where that came from.
Those racing against the clock to submit their 2024 returns by midnight tonight should keep in mind that the fastest way to receive their refund is to file taxes electronically.
When will I receive my refund?
Taxpayers who have already submitted their 2024 tax returns can expect to receive their refunds by the following dates:
March 10 → March 31
March 11 → April 1
March 12 → April 2
March 13 → April 3
March 14 → April 4
March 15 → April 5
March 16 → April 6
March 17 → April 7
March 18 → April 8
March 19 → April 9
March 20 → April 10
March 21 → April 11
March 22 → April 12
March 23 → April 13
March 24 → April 14
March 25 → April 15
Taxpayers who e-file should see the refunds hit their bank accounts within 21 days, according to IRS estimates.
For those who select direct deposit, it could take even less time.
Submitting a paper return, on the other hand, could result in a four-week wait or longer to receive a tax refund.
Americans who submit tax returns requiring amendments or corrections could wait even longer for their money.
As the midnight deadline creeps up, taxpayers should keep in mind a few key things.
Those who fail to file their taxes on time face a 25% fine – and the IRS has urged millions to avoid a certain tax form.
Plus, an expert has revealed four reasons your tax refund may be delayed plus a key way to prevent a common error on your return.
2025 Tax Season
Tax season started on January 27 and folks must have theirs completed filed on April 15.
Those who fail to file by that time may face penalties.
However, taxpayers who need more time may file for an extension – this gives them until October 15.
The way to do this is by filling out Form 4868, the Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
This can be done by mail, online with an IRS e-filing partner, or through a tax professional.
While there’s no set schedule, the IRS revealed that taxpayers may receive refunds within 21 days of filing.
Just be sure to avoid making mistakes on any forms as that could tack on extra time.
Those filing through mail will likely get their returns within a month or could even face delays as the IRS processes millions.
As of January 31, the average refund amount totaled $1,928, per the IRS.
This is compared to the $1,395 for the same period in 2024.
The average direct deposit refund for 2025 was even higher, the IRS said, at $2,069.
To check the status of your refund, The IRS has an online tool called Where’s My Refund?
This works within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.