This video was published by the IRS.

If you have recently finished filing your tax return, you’re probably wondering when you will get your refund. More than 9 out of 10 refunds are issued in less than 21 days. So how can you check the status of your refund? You can use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, which you can find on the mobile app IRS2Go or by going to IRS.gov.

You can start checking on the status of your refund within 24 hours after the IRS receives your e-file tax return, or four weeks after you mail a paper return. All you need to check on your refund is a copy of the tax return you filed; that way, you will have all the information you need: your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount you are expecting.

Keep in mind, this tool will only give you the updates as your tax return and refund move through the three steps in the refund process. You will receive updates when your return is received, when your refund is approved, and when your refund has been sent. The system is updated every 24 hours, usually every night, which means you don’t need to check for updates more than once a day.

“Where’s My Refund?” provides the most accurate information available, so usually there’s no need to call the IRS. IRS representatives can only research the status of your refund if it’s been 21 days or more since you filed electronically, or more than 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return, or if “Where’s My Refund?” directs you to call the IRS.

Issues that can slow down a refund include:

  • Errors on a tax return
  • Returns with issues that require further IRS review

If the IRS needs more information to process your return, you will be notified. By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, or the Additional Child Tax Credit. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits. Otherwise, you can usually expect the IRS to issue your refund in less than 21 days.

For more information, go to IRS.gov/refunds.