Why are some 2023 US tax refunds taking so long?

Tax season in the United States came to an end more than a month ago. From Jan. 13 to April 18, the Internal Revenue Service received returns for tax year 2022 from millions of taxpayers nationwide.

According to CNET, the average tax refund for 2023 is $3,028; in some cases, more or less, depending on each taxpayer’s personal situation.

Although the government agency has already issued around 130 million refunds, a certain number of taxpayers are still waiting for their payment. Here are some possible reasons why your money is taking so long to arrive.

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Why are some 2023 US tax refunds taking so long?

Before making any type of claim, you should take into account that the IRS period to issue your refund is up to 21 days after processing your return, as long as you have done it electronically and expect payment via direct deposit. The process could be extended from six to twelve weeks if you completed the process in the traditional way and expect payment through a printed check, via postal mail.

However, for 2023, the IRS has warned that the refund could take longer than expected, especially for taxpayers waiting for the payment of the Refund Catchup Credit, the Tax Credit for Earned Income and/or Additional Child Tax Credit.

Another reason why your refund may be delayed is because the IRS needs you to verify certain facts or make corrections to your return. If this is the case, the government agency will contact you directly.

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How do I track my refund?

If you don't know the status of your payment, you can track your refund through the tool Where's my Refund? or IRS2go, both from the Internal Revenue Service. Here you will find three statuses: Declaration received, refund approved and refund sent.

If tracking your refund shows that it was sent more than 21 days ago, the IRS recommends contacting 800-829-1040.