It’s hard to wait patiently when you know you have money coming your way. Chances are you want to know the exact minute it will get to you. While there are no guarantees, we can give you an estimate of when it will arrive.
Fastest way to get your tax refund
Without a shadow of doubt, the fastest way to get your money is to e-file with a tax program like ezTaxReturn.com and choose direct deposit for your refund. With ezTaxReturn, most people can prepare their federal and state returns in just 30 minutes. Providing inaccurate bank information will definitely slow down your refund, so always double check your entries. To make certain your refund gets directly to you, as fast as possible, copy your routing and account numbers exactly as they appear on your personal checks.
Estimated refund dates
According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 days, which is great news for your bank account. However, there’s always a slim chance that your refund may be delayed if your return requires additional review. So, hold off on spending the cash before it’s in your hands. Although the IRS doesn’t guarantee when your refund will arrive, here are the estimated refund dates.
| File By | E-File with Direct Deposit | E-File with Refund Mailed |
| January 23 | February 3 | February 10 |
| January 30 | February 10 | February 17 |
| February 6 | February 17 | February 24 |
| February 13 | February 24 | March 3 |
| February 20 | March 3 | March 10 |
| February 27 | March 10 | March 17 |
| March 6 | March 17 | March 24 |
| March 13 | March 24 | March 31 |
| March 20 | March 31 | April 7 |
| March 27 | April 7 | April 14 |
| April 3 | April 14 | April 21 |
| April 10 | April 21 | April 28 |
| April 17 | April 28 | May 5 |
| April 24 | May 5 | May 12 |
Best way to track your refund
Once you’ve e-filed and your return has been accepted, you can begin tracking your refund using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. The results are usually updated overnight so don’t waste your time visiting the site more than once a day. To check your refund status, all you need is your SSN or ITIN, filing status and refund amount.
