IRS Tax Season 2024: When to expect your tax refund

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin processing on Monday, 29 January. To get ahead in the queue, you should submit your return as soon as possible. Free options are available to those with an income under $79,000, with the tax authority creating a survey to identify which of the IRS’ partners has the best software to meet your needs.

How long will it take to distribute the refund?

How you file your taxes can also make a big difference in how long it takes to process your return and get your refund. It is, therefore, recommended that you prepare your filing correctly and submit it electronically to avoid delays. The IRS estimates that processing an electronic return and sending a refund will take around twenty-one days. To ensure a faster arrival, the agency recommends using direct deposit.

What about paper returns?

For those who opt to file a paper return, the IRS advises that if you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives your return. However, it’s important to note that it could take up to six months to receive a tax refund.

How to do you check the status of your refund?

You can track your refunds by using the IRS’s Where’s My Refund? tool. If you file your taxes electronically, you can get an update on your refund status within 24 hours of submitting your return. However, if you filed a paper return, you may have to wait up to four weeks to receive an update.

While your tax return is being processed, you can track its progress through three phases using the Where’s My Refund tool: Return Received, Refund Approved, and Refund Sent.