Estimated IRS Tax Refund Schedule Dates

What Are the Tax Refund Schedule Dates?

The IRS usually issues 9 out of 10 refunds within 10 days after efiling. The chart below will help you determine the date when you should get your tax refund.

However, keep in mind the IRS tax refund schedule dates are an estimation and are not set in stone.

Sometimes there are delays, which may cause your refund to take longer than 10 days to reach you.

Anyone can get their tax refund faster by e-filing and opting to receive their refund via direct deposit.

IRS Tax Refund Schedule Dates Chart

Date You Filed	Refund Date if E-File + Direct Deposit	Refund Date if Paper-File + Direct Deposit
Jan 15	Jan 25	Feb 25
Jan 22	Feb 1	Mar 1
Feb 1	Feb 11	Mar 11
Feb 7	Feb 17	Mar 17
Feb 15	Feb 25	Mar 25
Feb 22	Mar 4	Apr 4
Mar 1	Mar 11	Apr 11
Mar 7	Mar 17	Apr 17
Mar 15	Mar 25	Apr 25
Mar 22	Apr 2	May 2
Apr 1	Apr 10	May 10
Apr 7	Apr 17	May 17
Apr 15	Apr 25	May 25

Be First in Line for Your Tax Refund

More than 80% of taxpayers get a tax refund. Last year, federal tax refunds averaged almost $3,000. That’s why we’re encouraging people to file as soon as they can.

You can use the W2 finder and be first in line with TurboTax Online. There is no faster way for taxpayers to speed up their tax refund dates.

They will securely hold and then submit customers’ tax returns to the IRS as soon as the agency begins accepting returns.

TurboTax will process tax returns on a first-in, first-out basis. Although the IRS does not anticipate refund schedule delays, taxpayers are encouraged to e-file and use direct deposit as the fastest way to get their refunds.

As it did last year, the IRS expects to issue nine out of ten tax refunds in 21 calendar days or less.

Calculating Your Tax Refund

TurboTax has a free online tax refund calculator. This means estimating your refund does not have to be complicated.

Instead, you can plan ahead and decide what to do with your refund when it arrives.

Some Taxpayers May Experience a Delay in receiving Tax Refunds

Quoted from an IRS press release, John Koskinen, IRS Commissioner, said, “We don’t want people caught by surprise if they get their refund later than the normal date.”

Tax return filers claiming Additional Child Tax Credits (ACTC) and Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) may have their refunds held up by the IRS for several weeks.

The IRS tax refund schedule dates could be held up until Feb 15.

An additional factor coming into play is heightened identity theft awareness. As a result, both IRS and state tax authorities must take extra steps to prevent fraud.

The additional steps required by these entities take effect for the upcoming income tax filing season.

To prevent a delay in receiving your tax refund when claiming either the EITC or ACTC, make changes to your income tax withholdings for the remainder of the year.

This puts more money in your pocket now but reduces your refund later.

What to Expect When Filing Your Taxes Online

Deciding to file your taxes online is your key to making tax season less stressful. First, you have to answer a few questions about your tax situation and put your information on the correct tax forms.

Then, the online system will bring the deductions and credits you are eligible for to your attention.

This way, you can keep more of your hard-earned money. They even have a free tax refund calculator so you can see how much of a tax refund you should expect.

It is recommended that you file your tax return online because it will be processed quicker, and you will receive your refund in the shortest time possible.

If you mail in your tax return, your refund date could be delayed several weeks.

Who Can Get a Quick Tax Refund?

As long as individuals do not owe the IRS any money and have some earned income, they are eligible for a quick tax refund.

All these taxpayers have to do is e-file, and they should be anticipating a refund check according to the IRS tax refund schedule dates.

That is what you call fast because some people wait a month before they are paid for working their daily jobs.

Just remember that to get a quick refund, you must have all of your tax documents in order so that there are no reasons for the IRS to put a hold on your money.

If the information provided to the IRS is information that does not seem to follow through, they can also put a hold on your refund for that as well.

So make sure the information provided is accurate and correct to ensure you receive a refund.

Ways to Receive Your Tax Refund

• Direct Deposit – This is the quickest way, and it can go to your checking or savings account, including IRAs. You can even ask for it to be deposited into your TreasuryDirect account so you can buy U.S. Treasury marketable securities and savings bonds.
• By purchase of U.S. Series/Savings Bonds up to $5,000
• Paper check mailed to the address you used when filing taxes

To stop fraud and identity theft, the IRS limits the number of direct deposits that can go to one financial account to three.

This also includes prepaid debit cards, and if the limit is exceeded, a notice will be mailed with a paper check.

This year, you also have the option of having your refund partially or fully deposited into your myRA account. This is a new type of retirement account from the U.S. Treasury.

However, to do this, you have to already have a myRA account before filing your return. You will also need your routing and account numbers.

Splitting Your Return

If you are opting to receive your return via direct deposit, you do have the option of splitting up your return into up to three different accounts.

For example, you could put some in your checking, savings, and retirement accounts. To do this, you must complete and attach Form 8888 to your federal tax return.

However, you cannot do this if you file Form 8379. Also, keep in mind that the accounts you are depositing your money into should be in your name, your spouse’s name, or a joint account, which includes both you and your spouse’s name.

Lastly, to do the direct deposit option, your refund amount has to be at least $1.00.

Checking Your Refund Status via the IRS

You no longer have to worry about using the IRS Refund Cycle Chart or schedule to try to find out when your refund will arrive.

Instead, thanks to technology, you can use the “Where’s My Refund” tool that is located on the IRS website.

It will provide you with the status of your refund and alerts – Tax Return Received, Tax Refund Approved, and Tax Refund Sent.

If you have filed a paper return, it will take up to four weeks to show your Return Received alert. However, if you e-file, the alert usually shows within 24 hours.

You have to enter your personal information to use the tool, such as your social security number, filing status, and refund amount.

Checking Your Refund Status via the Phone

You can download the IRS2GO app and check your refund status directly from your phone if you have a smartphone.

It is available for Apple and Android phones. You will still have to enter your personal information to obtain your refund status.

Alternatively, you can call the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954. You will still have to enter the same information as you would if you were to check your refund status via the Internet.

Video Information About IRS Tax Refund Dates

Tax refunds for e-filed returns are usually processed within 10 days of the e-file acceptance date. Refunds from paper returns can take six to eight weeks to process from the date the return was received.

Despite nine out of ten returns going out in this period, if the return is incomplete or inaccurate, further review of the return can cause the refund schedule date to be delayed.

Getting a Fast Tax Refund

Now, you have learned a few different ways to get a fast tax refund date and how to check the status of your refund. All you have to do now is go with the option that works the best for you.

Remember, if you file your taxes online, you’ll get the fastest refund possible!