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 did my taxes on turbo tax , they was accepted January 28. But I put the wireless routing number. How long will it take to receive the check?

    Reply

  2. Filing taxes is such a PAIN! For 2014 I couldn’t e-file for the first time because the IRS said my DOB was wrong. Wtf? So I got that resolved and my taxes were delayed 2 wks by snail mail. For 2015, I moved so my W2 got lost in the mail and I had to wait 2 WEEKS for my employer to resend it. For 2016, my PO box rejected my W2 and got lost in the mail AGAIN! Theres NO WAY im waiting 2 wks again. I called corporate at least 15 times and I finally got my W2 electronically. I just got my DD today!!

    Reply

  5. I did my refund of Feb 9 and I still havent recieved my refund so I called the IRS and they told me on March 2 it got sent to the identity theft dept. If i send my pin along with my refund why are they taking so long to prove it is me? They also told me it takes 6-8 wks to process this really that long?? Does it really take long?

    Reply

  6. I need my refund.everyday I exceed the number of times I’m allowed per day to check.this blows I’m really anxious I owe some clown some $.i wish he was a clown , he’s a big ugly monster.

    Reply

  7. Hello! If I filed my taxes on February 12th and still have yet to receive my refund, when is the latest that I should be expecting my money? My girlfriend filed on the same day and got hers back last week. We both filed electronically.

    Reply

  8. I had mine done at H&R Block on 1/27 and they were immediately accepted.Status changed to processing last week. I have already received my state but nothing from federal. Everyone else around me is getting theirs and I’m still waiting. This is so frustrating. I wish someone could just give me a straight answer so I know what’s going on!

    Reply

  11. i filed on the feb 11th and still havent moved they say when u get the email it says when the irs accepts it then be looking at your direct deposite in to 7 to 14 days but the irs websites says the 19th

    Reply

      • I filed mines electronically through turbotax & my federal got received on the 11th & state got received on the 12th & the website still say received but don’t know what number to call to actually see what’s going on.!!!! Can anybody help me figure this out please so I can find out what’s going on with my taxes?

        Reply

  14. I have filed on the 5th of February and was accepted on the 5th of February and today I looked at my status and it says your refund is still processing waiting on a release date what do that mean and can I get it as early without them putting it up there they just updated that today

    Reply

  17. I called my emerald card today and it said that my refund was complete i filed on the 25th and it said it was processed on the 25th does anybody have a good idea when it will be loaded since its complete and on the app it doesnt even say complete i think that app isnt working properly

    Reply

  18. I filed Jan 25 and it’s still in ‘return accepted’ status. A friend of mine who filed after me has already got to ‘refund approved’, but I’m still waiting.

    Reply

  19. I have used Turbo Tax, my return very simple yet I filed 19th and still waiting as well, so TT isnt always going to get it faster

    Reply

  20. I file my taxe return on January 19,2016 it is being process, How long before you usually get a date for approved return

    Reply

    • I filed on 1/29 and was accepted the same day. I finally awoke this morning to a DD of 1/10, which also happens to be today’s date but still no refund. Turbo Tax is where I was given my deposit date yet WMR shows no change past received. I have a feeling that the recently announced breach has affected much more than the IRS will admit to. This is aggravating to say the least.

      Reply

  21. I filed my tax return in January 2015 and I had to take my id and social security in and now it’s been 3 months and it’s still saying processing I have called can’t get know one

    Reply

    • I filed my taxes in early April electronically. They were kicked back saying someone stole my identity and already filed them. I was told by my tax person I had to file a paper return and would get a questionnaire and password probably in June or July. It’s almost December and I’ve heard nothing. When I call Where’s my refund I just get a message saying it hasn’t been processed yet. I can not reach any one on the phone to talk to. Will I need to drive to their office in Cincinnattie?

      Reply

  24. Wow – great response to the competition and thanks for some of the supportive comments. To pick a winner, I used the Excel Random number generator and came up with 3 numbers (between 1 and 26 for number of entries) and the numbers were : 5, 8 and 24. This corresponds to (in chronological order, with 1 being the earliest comment)

    5 – Daniel
    8 – John D
    24 – Cathy Edwards

    I will email each of these winners shortly. Given I want to help all my readers, I will ask my Turbo tax contacts to see if we can get some more copies to give away. Stay tuned.

    Reply

  27. I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster.

    This would make things much easier!

    Thanks

    Reply

  28. Am a new divorcee & new at doing taxes myself & could use the help with these taxes! Running up to crunch-time too with two small kids! I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster!

    Reply

  35. I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster, although I think that is a funny statement given it is March 21st and I haven’t filed yet… :) Thanks for all the info in your blog, it’s been helpful.

    Reply

  36. I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster!

    Thanks for all the practical tips, and the sources to look further.

    Reply

  38. I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster. Turbo Tax really does walk you thru the whole process as if you were sitting with a tax advisor!

    Reply

  48. Hey
    So I am a lurker but I have been reading the blog for a while I do like your content. I regularly forward articles on to my wife so we can discuss them as we look over our finances each month.
    Oh ya.
    I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster.

    Reply

  50. Wow, this article was just in time as was planning to file my taxes tonight. Hope I win! Here is the catch phrase – I want to use TurboTax to file my software and get my refund faster

    Reply

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