When Will I Get My Tax Refund? 2023 IRS Refund Cycle and Direct Deposit Payment Dates

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You’ve filed your tax return and are expecting a tax refund. Congratulations!  Now, you want to know when to expect your refund and/or why is it taking so long to receive your money!

Generally, if you e-file and use direct deposit, the IRS estimates that you should receive your federal refund between 8 and 14 days after they accept your return. In total, their standard processing time for 9 out of 10 filers is meant to be less than 21 days.

However as many tax filers are seeing this year due to ongoing pandemic related staffing/budget shortages, prior year filing backlogs and new tax laws to process, refund processing has been delayed beyond normal processing timelines for many filers this year.

How Long Are Tax Refund Processing delays?

According to the latest guidance, we could see 6 to 8 weeks of delays beyond the estimated schedule below. So filing early and accurately is even more important than before.

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The IRS expects more than 70 percent of taxpayers to again receive tax refunds this year. Last year, the IRS issued 109 million refunds, with an average refund of around $2,600 (vs $3,300 last year)

Once your return is accepted by the IRS, your filing is place in the IRS master file for processing. The IRS updates processing status on WMR and IRS2Go daily, but many returns are processed on a daily or weekly basis, which you can see reflected on the estimated IRS E-file Refund Cycle Chart below.

Exact refund dates are based on IRS processing times and can be found in IRS Publication 2043 and IRS Topic 152 for both e-filed and mailed returns.

You should also review your transcript to get your IRS return processing cycle code, which provides clues on how and when the IRS processes your return.

If you did not select the electronic deposit option for your refund payment, getting a paper check mailed to you adds about a week.  If your return was filed by mail, then your refund can take up to 6 weeks from the date the IRS receives a complete and accurate return.

2022 Estimated Tax Refund Processing Schedule

Tax Return Accepted by IRS
(Status = Return Received)		If IRS Processing Completed By
(Status = Refund Approved)		Estimated Refund Payment Date via Direct Deposit (Status = Refund Sent)Estimated Refund Payment Date via Paper Check
January 24th, 2022January 31, 2022February 7 2022February 19, 2022
February 1, 2022February 8, 2022February 11, 2022February 22, 2022
February 7, 2022February 14, 2022February 18, 2022February 28, 2022
February 14, 2022February 22, 2022February 24, 2022 (PATH Batch #1)March 7, 2022
February 21, 2022February 28, 2022March 4, 2022 (PATH Batch #2)March 14, 2022
February 28, 2022March 7, 2022March 11, 2022 (PATH Batch #3)March 21, 2022
March 7, 2022March 14, 2022March 18, 2022March 28, 2022
March 14, 2022March 21, 2022March 25, 2022April 4, 2022
March 21, 2022March 28, 2022April 1, 2022April 11, 2022
March 28, 2022April 4, 2022April 8, 2022April 18, 2022
April 4, 2022April 11, 2022April 15, 2022April 25, 2022
April 11, 2022April 18, 2022April 22, 2022May 2, 2022
April 18, 2022April 25, 2022April 29, 2022May 9, 2022
April 25, 2022May 2, 2022May 6, 2022May 16, 2022
May 2, 2022May 9, 2022May 13, 2022May 23, 2022
May 9, 2022May 16, 2022May 20, 2022May 30, 2022
May 16, 2022May 23, 2022May 27, 2022June 6, 2022
May 23, 2022May 30, 2022June 3, 2022June 13, 2022
May 30, 2022June 6, 2022June 10, 2022June 20, 2022
June 6, 2022June 13, 2022June 17, 2022June 27, 2022
June 13, 2022June 20, 2022June 24, 2022July 4, 2022
June 20, 2022June 27, 2022July 1, 2022July 11, 2022
June 27, 2022July 4, 2022July 8, 2022July 18, 2022
July 4, 2022July 11, 2022July 15, 2022July 25, 2022
July 11, 2022July 18, 2022July 22, 2022August 1, 2022
July 18, 2022July 25, 2022July 29, 2022August 8, 2022
July 25, 2022August 1, 2022August 5, 2022August 15, 2022
August 1, 2022August 8, 2022August 12, 2022August 22, 2022
August 8, 2022August 15, 2022August 19, 2022August 29, 2022
August 15, 2022August 22, 2022August 26, 2022September 5, 2022
August 22, 2022August 29, 2022September 2, 2022September 12, 2022
August 29, 2022September 5, 2022September 9, 2022September 19, 2022
September 5, 2022September 12, 2022September 16, 2022September 26, 2022
September 12, 2022September 19, 2022September 23, 2022October 3, 2022
September 19, 2022September 26, 2022September 30, 2022October 10, 2022
September 26, 2022October 3, 2022October 7, 2022October 17, 2022
October 3, 2022October 10, 2022October 14, 2022October 24, 2022
October 10, 2022October 17, 2022October 21, 2022October 31, 2022
October 17, 2022October 24, 2022October 28, 2022November 7, 2022
October 24, 2022October 31, 2022November 4, 2022November 14, 2022
October 31, 2022November 7, 2022November 11, 2022November 21, 2022
November 7, 2022November 14, 2022November 18, 2022November 28, 2022
November 14, 2022November 21, 2022November 25, 2022December 5, 2022
November 21, 2022November 28, 2022December 2, 2022December 12, 2022
November 28, 2022December 5, 2022December 9, 2022December 19, 2022
December 5, 2022December 12, 2022December 16, 2022December 26, 2022
December 12, 2022December 19, 2022December 23, 2022January 2, 2023
December 19, 2022December 26, 2022December 30, 2022January 9, 2023
December 26, 2022January 2, 2023January 6, 2023January 16, 2023
January 2, 2023January 9, 2023January 13, 2023January 23, 2023
January 9, 2023January 16, 2023January 20, 2023January 30, 2023

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See more refund information from the bigger online tax providers – > TurboTax, H&R Block or TaxAct

Should I call the IRS if I haven’t received my refund?

For the latest tax season the IRS has already announced that there will likely be tax refund payment delays. In particular for taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) refunds will now be paid from late February.

This was mandated under the PATH act that Congress passed a few years ago. The IRS have said to only call them after 21 days (Mid-March) if you do not get your refund payment.

Unfortunately calling the IRS won’t do anything to speed your refund since their call center staff are not the ones who process the tax returns. But you may get an update or see if there are any pending actions that can move your refund processing forward.

The best option is still to use the “Where’s My Refund” page or IRS2Go application. If you don’t receive your refund in 21 days, then and only then, contact the IRS to determine why it is taking so long to receive your return.

When to Expect Your State Tax Refund

State refunds are processed by each individual state, so processing times will vary. Also while your state and federal tax information is dependent on each other, refund processing is done differently at the state level and federal (IRS) level.

As a general rule, you can expect your state tax refund within 30 days of the electronic filing date or the postmark date.

To get the current status of your state tax refund (see CA and NJ), contact your state tax agency or search online for your state’s taxation website.

Most states have their own online tools to check your state refund status. You can see here for more on state tax refund processing times and sites.  

Per the comments on that article it is not unusual for state refunds to lag the federal refund, especially earlier in the tax season.

Like federal returns however state returns are also going through a lot more identity verification checks which are holding up refunds again this year.

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89 thoughts on “When Will I Get My Tax Refund? 2023 IRS Refund Cycle and Direct Deposit Payment Dates”

  1. I filed tax credit recovery and it was processed then accepted and now it says pending but arrival day is may 27 . What does pending mean ? Am I gonna receive my money?

    Reply

  2. I find it incredibly insane that my wife has already received her federal return a months and a half ago or better. But here we are almost June filed the return March 3rd . And it still says her state return status is still pending. And look I get it. Them forcing everything to shut down for how ever long they plan on dragging this out putting a delay on stuff. But 2. 1/2. Almost 3 months pending. This is beyond ridiculous. The state is delaying taking their tax money from my wife’s check every week. They are making sure they get their money. It well past time they start giving people back the money that a owed to them. This is just a slap in the face to the tax payers. We want our money.

    Reply

    • I agree-we e filed on march 27 2020 and the IRS site says ” still pending” What? Now on my account page it states that our 2019 taxes were not processed! What- the IRS accepted my e file on March 27 2020. I am at a loss here! Does anyone have any insight on this matter- Please and thank you! :(

      Reply

  3. Oddly enough, I have already received my Federal refund, however, I seemingly can not check on the status of my State refund and am getting both worried and frustrated. I have not received any notice by the IRS to send additional information or audit information, or what-have-you, I just would appreciate some advice on, well, anything really.

    Reply

  4. I FILED MY TAXES ON FEB 4 2019.AND FEDERAL AND GA HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. MY QUESTION IS DOSE 21 DAYS APPLY TO STATE OR JUST FEDERAL?

    Reply

  5. I filed my tax return on February 21 and have received my state return but not federal. When should I expect it? Every time I check it says being processed

    Reply

  6. I am wondering why i haven’t recieved my state refund and why the system is still saying that the state refund has not been processed yet but i electronically filed on January 27th 2017 and i recieved my Federal refund on February 22,1017 why hasn’t my state refund been processed when should i recieve it

    Reply

  8. Filed taxes 1-30 & still can’t tell me anything? We don’t receive eic and have no children. Still don’t say anything on where’s my refund I’ve called twice and nothing

    Reply

  9. I did my taxes on the 29th of January and the IRS2Go won’t show me Anything it just says they can’t provide me no information at this time

    Reply

    • Can you view your transcript online? If so, this is where you will find out exactly why you are under review by the codes that will be listed. Indeed something is wrong since you filed and was accepted on 1/30.

      Can you think or any reason you were pulled for review. Did you have any of the following:

      Common Reasons Returns are pulled for Review or Full Blown Audits:

      1. NEW changes this year compared to your last 3 years of filing? This will most definitely flag your return.
      2. Address Change?
      3. Did you file prior to receiving your W-2? (ex: did you use your last paycheck stub?) there could be a math error.
      4. Educational Credit?
      5. ID verification
      6. Add/drop dependents?
      7. Offset (owed back taxes for a prior year) which will not show up on the offset line.
      8. Have you checked the offset line (800) 304-3107
      9. Health Care Form (1095A) missing/not included

      Keep in mind IRS can fix some of these issues without sending a letter or you having to do anything. They have access to varies databases to look up and verify most info. Can you tell me what your cycle is if you can review your transcript? Have you even tried to order them yet or view online? If you can order and view the account transcript and the return transcript; that means that are done processing; but doesn’t mean the have completed the process…

      If you were accepted on 1/30/17 your cycle code should be 20170502 maybe 20170504 since efile is off by 2 days when IRS really accepts it. If you are weekly it will say 20170505.

      Once I know a little more I can determine more closely what may be going on with your delay.

      But I can tell you this; you can call an Advocate today and the will be able to look you up and tell you exactly whats the hold up…just tell them you have a hardship and they will help – 1-877-777-4778

      There is going to be an update in the morning…check and see if you have any movement; you could be a weekly/not daily filer.

      Good luck and hopefully you can reach an advocate to open a case for you. Also, you can call IRS again and tell them you are requesting a 911 Form to be submitted for an advocate to call you to help, because you have a hardship they will have to honor the request. Perhaps then you can insist they tell you if a letter is in the mail or what is the hold up…

      IRS – (800) 829-0582 ext. 652

      Keep me updated…and tell me what codes you found on your “account” transcript

      Source : https://savingtoinvest.com/people-seeing-tax-returns-and-refunds-being-processed-and-accepted/

      Reply

    • I filed my taxes JANUARY 27 N MINES STILL SAY ITS PROCESSING I CALL THE TAX LADY WHO DID IT FOR ME N ITS STILL SAYING N PROCESSING I NEED TO KNW WUTS GOING ON THIS IS FRUSTRATING BC I SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOTTEN MY TAXES I KNOW PEOPLE THAT FILED WI THE SAME LADY THAT DID MINE TAXES N THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEY MONEY ALRE DIRECT DEPOSIT N

      Reply

      • I filled soon as they opened when i check wmr no information called no info now wen i call this num it says march 8th 8003043107 its gonna ask just for ur social it should tell u if u have a debt or something

        Reply

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