For most people in the U.S., a federal tax refund is deposited within about 1–3 weeks after the IRS accepts the return , but the exact timing depends on how you filed and how you’re getting paid.

Typical timelines after “accepted”

Once the IRS shows your return as “accepted,” this is the usual range:

  • E‑file + direct deposit (fastest):
    • IRS goal: refund issued within 21 days of acceptance.
* Many direct deposits show up in **about 7–14 days** , sometimes faster in early season if there are no issues.
  • E‑file + paper check:
    • IRS can still issue within about 21 days , but mailing time adds several days to a couple of weeks.
  • Paper-filed return (mailed in):
    • Processing can take 6–8 weeks or more from when the IRS receives it before a refund is even issued.
* Deposit or check then follows after issuance, usually a few more days.

In other words, once you see “accepted,” think of a normal window of a few days to about three weeks until the money actually arrives, assuming no problems.

“Accepted” vs “approved” vs “sent”

The IRS uses different statuses, which can be confusing:

  • Return received/accepted:
    The IRS has your return and it passed basic checks; the refund clock starts here.
  • Refund approved:
    The IRS has finished processing and has scheduled your refund; at this point, you’re usually just days away from a deposit or check.
  • Refund sent:
    Money has been released to your bank or the Postal Service; your bank typically needs 1–3 business days to show the deposit, though some are same‑day and some take a bit longer.

A simple way to think of it:

Accepted → processing (up to ~21 days) → Approved → Sent → Bank posts it (1–3 days).

Bank and card timing

Even after the IRS sends the money, your bank or card company can affect when you see it:

  • Many banks post IRS direct deposits the same day they receive them or by the next business day.
  • Some institutions, especially prepaid cards or online banks, may show funds up to two days early or can hold them a day or two longer depending on their policies.
  • Weekends and holidays can shift the posting date to the next business day.

If the IRS says your refund was sent but you still don’t see it after 5 days , contacting your bank is a good next step.

Things that can slow it down

Even after “accepted,” some common issues can stretch the time beyond the usual 21 days:

  • Certain credits (like some fraud‑prone refundable credits) can cause extra reviews and delays.
  • Mismatched income information, missing info, or identity‑verification flags.
  • Amended returns or past‑due federal/state debts, child support, or student loans that can trigger offsets.

In those situations, it’s normal for a refund to take more than 21 days , and you may see additional notices.

How to check your exact date

To move from guessing to your actual date:

  1. Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” online tool or app.
    • You can usually see status 24 hours after e‑filing or about 4 weeks after mailing.
  1. Once it shows a refund date , that’s the best estimate; many people get their deposit on or a bit before that date , depending on the bank.

So, in practical terms: after your tax return is accepted, expect your refund to be deposited in roughly 1–3 weeks with e‑file and direct deposit, but plan for up to 21 days as the standard window.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.