Taxpayers are understandably worried about the status of their tax refunds this year, given the millions of returns that were delayed at the IRS during the pandemic.
The agency recently advised taxpayers not to expect their checks by any specific date in 2023. According to a Bankrate survey, nearly 70% of taxpayers are anxious about their refunds this year, with one in five concerned that their refund will be delayed.
The IRS has provided some data and guidance on how long taxpayers can expect to wait for their refunds. The vast majority of refunds are issued within 21 calendar days, according to the IRS. However, tax experts have warned that filing paper tax forms will slow down the process significantly.
The IRS notes that if you filed on paper, it may take six months or more to process your tax return. In the best-case scenario, it could take around four weeks for a refund.
Taxpayers who have e-filed can check the progress of their return using the “Where’s My Refund?” site 24 hours after filing. However, taxpayers who file by paper may have to wait up to four weeks after mailing their return to get information from “Where’s My Refund?”
The IRS says that “Where’s My Refund” will provide a personalized refund date after the agency processes your return and approves your refund. The tracker will indicate when the IRS received your return, when the refund is approved, and when the refund is sent.
Although the IRS began the tax season with a backlog of around 10 million tax returns, the agency has been hiring more staff to help work through the backlog and handle this year’s filing season.
Americans have been filing their taxes earlier this year than in the previous year, and the IRS is processing claims faster than it did in 2022. However, errors or other issues can cause tax returns to get flagged for review, delaying the return and refund.
»How long does tax refund take?«
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