Most 2026 IRS tax refunds go out within about 21 days after the IRS accepts your electronically filed return, especially if you choose direct deposit and your return has no issues.

Key 2026 refund timing

  • The IRS opened the 2026 filing season in late January 2026.
  • For most people who eā€‘file and use direct deposit, refunds are issued in fewer than 21 days after acceptance.
  • Once the IRS sends the refund, banks can take up to about 5 days to show the money in your account.

Special rules for EITC/ACTC

  • If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), your refund is held until midā€‘ to late February due to antiā€‘fraud laws.
  • In 2026, many EITC/ACTC filers are being told to expect refunds around early March (for example, by about March 2 if they filed early and everything is correct).

Rough calendar examples for 2026

These are typical, not guaranteed, timelines if your return is accurate and accepted quickly:

  • File around late January (for example Jan 26): you could see a directā€‘deposit refund by about midā€‘February (around Feb 16ā€“21).
  • File in early to midā€‘February: refunds often arrive in late February to early March.
  • Paper returns or paper checks (if allowed in your situation) can take several extra weeks, often 4ā€“6 weeks or more.

How to get your 2026 refund faster

  • Eā€‘file your return instead of mailing a paper return.
  • Use direct deposit and doubleā€‘check your routing and account numbers.
  • Make sure your return is complete and accurate to avoid manual review delays.
  • Track status using the IRS ā€œWhereā€™s My Refund?ā€ tools once at least 24 hours have passed after eā€‘filing.

If youā€™re still waiting

  • If it has been more than 21 days since your eā€‘filed return was accepted (or more than 6 weeks after mailing a paper return), and the IRS tracker is not updating, your return may be under additional review and could take longer.
  • Refunds can be delayed by identityā€‘verification checks, mismatched income information, or errors in credits such as EITC or Child Tax Credit.

Bottom line: For 2026, assume about three weeks from IRS acceptance to get your refund with eā€‘file and direct deposit, and longer if you claim EITC/ACTC or if there are any issues with your return.