The 2026 tax season kicked off this past Monday when the IRS officially started accepting 2025 tax returns. If you’re an early bird, you may have already filed your tax return and are now wondering when you’ll be able to start spending your tax refund.
A simple way to find out when your tax refund will arrive from the IRS is by using an online service that shows you the status of your tax refund. We’ll explain how to track the status of your refund and any money the IRS owes you.
For more tax tips, learn what’s new for crypto taxes and how you can still file your taxes for free, even after the end of Direct File.
Track the status of your 2026 tax refund
The fastest way to check the status of your tax refund is by using the IRS tool Where’s My Refund? tracker. The tool tells you where you are in the process and also lets you know if there are any issues with your return, such as rejection due to errors.
This status information is updated once a day overnight.
What you need to get started
To use the tracker, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), your filing status (single, married or head of household) and your refund amount in whole dollars.
Visit the tracker page on the IRS website and click the Check your refund button. Once directed to the Refund Status page, enter your details and click Submit. You should be directed to your refund status.
Note that it takes 24 hours after you e-file your return or four weeks after you file a paper tax return for your status to appear.
What are the different statuses of tax returns?
When you check the IRS tool for your refund status, it will show you one of three messages.
- Received: The IRS has your tax return and is working to process it.
- Approved: The IRS has processed your return and confirmed the amount of your refund (if applicable).
- Sent: Your tax refund is on its way to your bank via direct deposit or as a paper check sent to your mailbox.
Other resources to track your 2026 income tax refund
The IRS has a mobile app, IRS2Go, that can monitor your tax refund status. The app can be downloaded for both iOS and Android and is available in English and Spanish. On the app, you can track if your return has been received, approved or sent.
To log in, you’ll need your Social Security number, filing status and the expected amount of your refund. The IRS also updates the app overnight, so if you don’t see a status change, check back the following day.
Can I track a refund from a previous tax year?
Yes, the Where’s My Refund? tool allows you to track a refund starting with the 2022 tax year.
If you’re looking for return details from years before the 2022 tax season, you’ll need to check your IRS online account. You’ll be able to see the total amount you owe, your payment history, details about your most recent tax return, notices you’ve received from the IRS and your address on file.
Why do I get Tax Topic 152 or an IRS error message?
On the Where’s My Refund? tracker, you may see a status other than received, approved or sent. Here’s how to decode what those messages mean.
- Tax Topic 152: This means you’re likely getting a refund, but it hasn’t been approved or issued yet. This message includes a link to an informational page on the IRS FAQ website, explaining refund types and timelines.
- Tax Topic 151: Your tax return is under IRS review. This could be to verify certain credits or dependents or because the IRS believes you owe money, which could result in a reduced refund. You’ll need to wait about four weeks for a notice from the IRS detailing what steps you need to take.
There are other IRS refund codes that apply to a small number of filers, such as those indicating issues with freezes, math errors or undelivered checks. You can visit The College Investor for a list of IRS refund reference codes and what they mean.
Why was my refund mailed instead of deposited?
Filing electronically and setting up direct deposit is the quickest method to receive your tax refund. In fact, this combination can get your tax refund sent in about 21 days as opposed to the four weeks it usually takes for a paper refund check.
There are several reasons why your refund might be mailed instead of being directly deposited into your bank account:
- You need to have provided the correct account and routing numbers for the deposit to go through.
- Direct deposits can only be made into an account in your name, your spouse’s name or a joint account with both names.
- The IRS can only process direct deposits for up to three refunds into a single account.
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