Most IRS refunds are sent within about 21 days of the IRS accepting an e‑filed return, and often sooner if you use direct deposit, but some refunds (especially with certain credits) can take longer and arrive in early March or later.

When does IRS send out refunds?

The IRS doesn’t wait until tax season is over to send refunds—it issues them continuously as returns are processed. For 2026, the IRS began accepting 2025 tax year returns on January 26, 2026, so the refund clock starts once your individual return is accepted, not when you hit “submit.”

Typical refund timelines

In most recent seasons, the core pattern has been:

  • E‑file + direct deposit: Usually within 10–21 days after the IRS accepts your return if there are no issues.
  • E‑file + paper check: Often around 3–4 weeks after acceptance.
  • Mailed (paper) return + direct deposit: Commonly 4–8 weeks after the IRS receives and processes the return.
  • Mailed return + paper check: Often 4–9 weeks or more , depending on volume and any errors.

A concrete illustration: someone who e‑files on the first acceptance day (Jan. 26) with direct deposit and a simple return could see a refund in mid‑February, roughly around Feb. 16–Feb. 18 in current examples.

Special rules for certain credits

Some refunds are held a bit longer by law:

  • Returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) are often not released until late February or early March , even if filed on opening day.
  • For 2026, the IRS has indicated most EITC/ACTC refunds should be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by around March 2 , assuming no other problems and direct deposit is chosen.

This delay is built into federal anti‑fraud rules, so it’s normal even if everything is correct.

Why your refund might be delayed

Even outside those credits, refunds can be slower if:

  • The IRS needs to verify information (income mismatches, dependent issues, identity checks).
  • Your return has errors or incomplete information that requires manual review.
  • You filed during peak season (late March to mid‑April) , when processing volume is highest.
  • You have past‑due taxes, child support, or other federal/state debts ; the IRS can offset your refund to pay those.

Because of all these variables, the IRS explicitly advises people not to rely on a refund arriving by a specific date for big purchases or bill payments.

Quick facts in table form

Here’s a simple timing snapshot:

[3][1][5][7] [5][7] [5][7] [7][5] [1][9]
Situation How you file / get paid Typical timing after IRS acceptance
Simple return, no special credits E‑file + direct deposit About 10–21 days.
Simple return, no special credits E‑file + paper check Around 3–4 weeks.
Paper return, no special credits Mail in + direct deposit Roughly 4–8 weeks.
Paper return, no special credits Mail in + paper check About 4–9 weeks.
Return with EITC/ACTC E‑file + direct deposit Most refunds available by early March (e.g., around March 2 for 2026).

How to track “where” your refund is

To see exactly when your refund is likely to come:

  1. Wait at least 24 hours after e‑filing (or several weeks after mailing) for the return to show in the system.
  1. Use the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool or IRS2Go app to check your status once the return is accepted.
  1. Watch for three stages:
    • Return received
    • Refund approved
    • Refund sent

That status page is typically updated once per day, so checking more often won’t change what you see.

TL;DR: The IRS sends most refunds within 21 days of accepting an e‑filed return, sooner with direct deposit, later with paper returns or special credits, and the official “Where’s My Refund?” tool is your best real‑time guide.

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