Taxpayers preparing for the upcoming tax season for the 2024 tax year must be wondering about credits, deductions, and tax refunds. Taxpayers receive tax refunds when they have overpaid the taxes or qualify for the refundable credit.
When will I get a Tax Refund 2025?
Under the US tax system, taxpayers receive overpaid taxes or refundable credits through tax refunds. Taxpayers can claim the refund in three years, so in 2025, taxpayers can claim a refund for the 2024, 2023, and 2022 tax years.
The IRS processes the refund within 21 days when you have filed the tax return electronically and opt for Direct deposit as your payment method in the return. The tax refund date depends on the way you have filed tax returns and payment method, such as:
- E-filed and Direct Deposit filers: Within 21 days of filing the return
- E-filed and Physical Check: One month from the day of filing
- Mailed tax form and Direct Deposit- One to two months
- Paper file and Paper check: After two months
- Amended tax returns: 3 weeks to show up in the IRS system and 16 weeks to process the refund.
The tax refund may vary from person to person, but remember your payment can get delayed as well for many reasons.
2025 Tax Refund Calendar
Taxpayers speculating about the tax refund for 2024 tax year returns can expect their refund payment date based on their filed tax return date and payment method, so we have curated the 2025 calendar based on the same conditions to give you an idea of when you can expect your refund:
| Tax return accepted | Refund via Direct Deposit | Refund via Paper check |
| 21 Jan – 29 Jan 2025 | 05 Feb 2025 | 14 Feb 2025 |
| 29 Jan- 09 Feb 2025 | 14 Feb 2025 | 21 Feb 2025 |
| 10 Feb – 15 Feb 2025 | 21 Feb 2025 | 28 Feb 2025 |
| 16 Feb – 23 Feb 2025 | 28 Feb 2025 | 07 Mar 2025 |
| 24 Feb – 01 Mar 2025 | 07 Mar 2025 | 14 Mar 2025 |
| 02 Mar – 10 Mar 2025 | 17 Mar 2025 | 24 Mar 2025 |
| 11 Mar – 19 Mar 2025 | 24 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 |
| 20 Mar – 26 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 07 Apr 2025 |
| 27 Mar – 31 Mar 2025 | 07 Apr 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 |
| 01 Apr – 10 Apr 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 | 24 Apr 2025 |
| 11 Apr – 15 Apr 2025 | 24 Apr 2025 | 05 May 2025 |
Important Note: Tax returns with EITC or ACTC claims will be processed after 15 Feb 2025, so they may receive their tax refund by the end of Feb (Direct Deposit) or the first second week of March 2025 (paper check).
What can delay your 2025 Tax Refunds?
As we have mentioned earlier, your tax refunds can sometimes get delayed too due to some reasons, such as:
- Your IRS tax return information is not accurate or you have missed some information or documents to file with the tax returns which may take time for the IRS to review. In case of missing information, the IRS will contact you to provide the said information.
- Your bank account information has been mentioned with the tax returns as incorrect or invalid, which can lead to either the IRS sending you a refund via paper check or your refund not being able to processed, or it can go to some other account that you have entered by mistake. Hence, always check your submitted information.
- You claimed the EITC or ACTC credits with your tax return, which will delay your refund under the PATH Act until 15 February 2025.
- You owe tax debt or have a tax balance that the agency will recover from your tax refund, however, before taking your refund, the agency will inform you and you can appeal against it or ask the IRS to send the refund due to your financial hardship.
Check IRS Tax Refund Status via Where’s My Refund tool
Taxpayers can easily track their IRS tax refund through the IRS Where’s My Refund tool and know at what stage their refund has reached to anticipate their tax refund date.
According to the IRS guidelines, the tool tells the status in three phrases: Return accepted (when the agency has accepted your filed return), Refund approved ( when the IRS has reviewed the returns and accepted you have tax refund), Refund Sent ( when the IRS has processed your refund and you may receive it anytime soon based on your payment method).
The IRS system starts showing your tax refund status based on your tax return way of filing and tax year, for instance, e-filers can see the refund status within 24 or 48 hours, and filers who filed return for the prior year return can check the status in 3 to 4 days, and paper return filers can check the status after 4 weeks of filing.
Remember, taxpayers who filed the amended tax return will need to use the Where’s My Amended Return tool instead of the Where’s My Return tool.
What to do if you do not receive the tax refund?
Generally, people who get approval on their tax refund receive the payment within the mentioned period. However, if the refund is not deposited on the expected date, you should first see if your bank account is active or if you have mentioned the correct bank account information/ mailing address.
If you find everything is correct, and your refund status shows refund sent, you can call the IRS helpline number at 800 829 1954 or visit the nearest IRS tax office to look into your tax refund. The agency or officials will respond to you with a refund delay reason or a solution to your query.
IRS tax refunds are generally paid timely to taxpayers on time, the IRS ensures taxpayers have a smooth tax filing experience, so at any point you have any confusion or query you can contact the agency.
