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IRS Refund Information Guidelines
for the Tax Preparation Community,,
Key Message,, Use Where’s My Refund? to Where’s My Refund? on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go app will be
2021
– The IRS issues Check the Status of Your Refund,, updated with projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC
more than 9 out refund filers by February 22. So EITC/ACTC filers will not see
Where’s My Refund? gives you personalized refund an update to their refund status for several days after Feb. 15.
of 10 refunds
information based on the processing of your tax return. The IRS, tax preparers and tax software will not have additional
in less than 21
days. Encourage taxpayers to use the IRS2Go app or IRS.gov. Both information on refund dates, so Where’s My Refund? remains
are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Taxpayers can the best way to check the status of a refund.
start checking on the status of their return within 24 hours
after we have received their e-filed return or 4 weeks after they Take These Steps to Help Your Clients File an
mail a paper return. Where’s My Refund? includes a tracker Accurate Tax Return and Get Their Refund Fast
that displays progress through 3 stages: Using e-file is the best way to file an accurate tax return, and
1. Return Received , , combining e-file with direct deposit is the fastest way for a
2. Refund Approved,, taxpayer to get their refund. Take these steps to ensure the tax
3. Refund Sent return is processed as quickly as possible.
To use Where’s My Refund? taxpayers need to provide their – file electronically,
Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar – submit an accurate, complete, error-free return,
amount of their refund. – verify the correct Social Security number or Taxpayer
Where’s My Refund? provides a personalized refund date as Identification Number for the taxpayer, their spouse and their
soon as the IRS processes the tax return and approves the dependents,
related refund. Where’s My Refund? is updated no more than – provide the correct mailing address in case we need to mail
once every 24 hours, usually over night. So taxpayers don’t the refund check,
need to check the status more often. Also, our phone and – use the correct bank account and routing number if
walk-in employees can only research the status of a refund if choosing direct deposit.
it’s been 21 days or more since taxpayers filed electronically,
more than six weeks since they mailed a paper return, or if the Direct Deposit , ,
Where’s My Refund? tool directs them to do so. Taxpayers The IRS urges taxpayers to join the eight out of 10 people who
claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child already receive refunds using direct deposit. It’s a reliable, fast,
Tax Credit should only call if Where’s My Refund? directs secure, contact-less way to receive your money. All you need
them to do so. is an account number and routing number. Use Form 8888 to
make direct deposits in up to three accounts.
Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or
the Additional Child Tax Credit Two reminders:
If a taxpayer is claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) 1. Preparers cannot use Form 8888 to collect fees;
or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), they can file their 2. There is a limit of three refunds into a single account.
return any time after the filing season begins. However, by
law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax Some Refunds take Longer to Process
returns that claim EITC or the ACTC. Keep in mind that only a The IRS works hard to issue refunds as quickly as possible, but
small percentage of total filers will fall into this situation. some tax returns take longer to process than others for many
While the IRS will process taxpayer returns when they are reasons, including when a return:
received, it cannot issue related refunds before mid-February. – includes errors,,is, incomplete, or,needs,further review.
The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be – includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an
available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by the Additional Child Tax Credit.
first week of March, if they chose direct deposit and there – is impacted by identity theft or fraud.,,
are no other issues with their tax return. Check Where’s My
Refund for your personalized refund date.
Caution
Urge taxpayers not to count on getting their refund by a certain date to make major purchases or pay bills. Even though the IRS
issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it’s possible their tax return may require additional review and take longer.
Reminder: Any claims by Providers concerning faster refunds by virtue of electronic filing must be consistent with the language in official IRS publications. Per the advertising
standards in Publication 3112, IRS e-file Application and Participation, and Publication 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns,
providers must not use improper or misleading advertising in relation to IRS e-file, including the time frames for refunds or other financial products.
This reminder serves as the IRS’s request to the tax preparation community to follow these messaging guidelines. The IRS will monitor Industry practice during filing season, but
anticipates and expects voluntary compliance from its partners in support of this important effort to help taxpayers understand their refund status.
Publication 2043 (Rev. 1-2021) Catalog Number 60909G Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov
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