WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) – As you await your tax refund, you may be thinking about that famous quip from Jerry Maguire “Show Me the Money.” But, you don’t have to keep checking your mailbox or bank statement online, you can know where your refund stands with the IRS with a few simple clicks.
All you have to do is click Where’s My Refund? on IRS.gov. You can also check out the smartphone app IRS2Go to get the status of your money.
The IRS says information will normally be ready within 24 hours after the IRS gets your e-filed return. If you mail a return into the IRS, your information will take longer, about four weeks. There’s no need to check it each and every day hour. The system only updates once a day, usually overnight. Once the IRS processes your return and approves your refund, you’ll be able to see your personalized refund date. According to the IRS, it issues more refunds in less than 21 days after receiving a tax return. But, the feds say its possible your return might require extra review and take longer.
To use the refund checking site, you’ll need your Social Security number, filing status and exact refund amount.
If you don’t have Internet access, you can call 800-829-1954. The IRS says you should only call if it’s been 21 days since you e-filed, 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return, or the Where’s My Refund? site tells you to call.
