When will my refund arrive if I filed my taxes on the last day of tax season, April 15?

Tax season in the United States has come to an end. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began to receive and process 2023 tax returns on Jan. 19 from millions of taxpayers.

The last day to file the return and pay taxes to the IRS was Monday, April 15, except for Maine and Massachusetts, where the deadline was moved to April 17 because of the Patriots Day and Emancipation Day holidays, respectively.

Those who cannot file their tax return on time can file an extension with the IRS to obtain a six-month extension.

What is an extension and how do I request one?

The IRS extension only applies to the tax filing process, but not to the payment of taxes. Those who failed to apply for an extension by April 15 could face fines and sanctions from the tax agency.

Those living in Maine and Massachusetts who are interested in obtaining an extension to file taxes can do so through the IRS Free File tool or by sending Form 4868 by April 17. The form can be submitted after the deadline, but there is a high possibility that it will incur a penalty due to late submission.

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When will my refund arrive if I filed my taxes on the last day of tax season, April 15?

If you filed your tax return during the April 15 deadline, you will be receiving your tax refund in the second week of May. This is because the IRS establishes a period of up to 21 business days to deliver the refund via direct deposit to those who filed their return electronically.

Taxpayers who completed the process in the traditional way and expect payment via postal mail must wait between six and 12 weeks to get their money back, since payment by printed check takes longer. Whatever the method of submission, you can track the status of your refund through the Where’s my refund? tool of the IRS.