How to Track Your Tax Refund

(MoneyHippo.com) – Once you file your taxes, it can feel like forever before you receive your refund. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) states processing refunds can take up to three weeks, but you can track your return’s movement through the system. All you have to do is visit the official IRS website, give them a bit of information, and the government will tell you the status of your refund.

After filing your return, you should get a notification that the IRS accepted it. To get an updated status following the acceptance, visit the Where’s My Refund portal on IRS.gov. The form will require you to enter your social security number or Employer Identification Number, your filing status, and the refund amount on your return.

Once you enter the data, the IRS will give you one of three status reports: received, approved, or sent. The portal will provide you with dates that correspond to each stage, so once you see the refund Sent response, look for the refund either in your bank account or mailbox.

If it’s been over 21 days and the status has not changed on your return, you can contact the IRS directly to get an updated status report.