BELLINGHAM — Over 100 million Americans received tax refunds last year, according to the Internal Revenue Service. With the average amount surpassing $3,100, refunds can be a significant help for the people who qualify each tax season.
With the April 15 deadline to file a federal income tax return approaching, here’s when you can expect to receive a tax refund.
- When can you expect your refund?
You can expect to receive your refund within 21 days of filing your tax return, if you do so online, according to the IRS. If you file by mail, or you file an amended tax return, the IRS says it typically takes four weeks or more to process your refund. If your tax return needs additional review or corrections, your refund will likely take longer to get to you.
Exceptions for tax credits
People who filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit won’t receive their refund until later. The lag is designed to give the IRS time to vet for fraud. If you filed for either credit, the IRS is legally required to hold your refund until mid-February. This year, it expects to have refunds for EITC and ACTC filers by March 3.
- How to track your refund status
Refunds can be issued by check, direct deposit, pre-paid debit card or through a deposit into an IRA account. If you don’t remember which option you selected, you should check the mail and your bank account.
If your refund isn’t showing up, the IRS offers tools to track its status. You can use the IRS’s “Check My Refund” online portal or the IRS2Go mobile app. If it’s been over 21 days since you filed your electronic return online, or six or more weeks since you filed by mail, you can also call the IRS’s Taxpayer Assistance Centers.
- Why your refund could be delayed
According to the IRS, these are some of the most common reasons for your refund to be delayed:
- Your tax return is incomplete.
- Your tax return has errors, such as an incorrect social security number or a computational error.
- Your tax return was affected by fraud or identity theft.
- The child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount listed on your return needs to be corrected.
- You’ve filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.
- Your bank takes additional time to post the refund to your account.
If the IRS needs additional information from you, they will contact you by mail.
- How much will your tax refund be?
In general, you’ll receive a tax refund if your employer withheld more money than was necessary from your paycheck for your taxes, or if you’re self-employed and paid more money than you needed to on your estimated tax payments. While there’s no way to know your exact refund amount in advance, you can get an estimate through an online refund calculator, which are offered by several companies, or through the IRS’s withholding estimator tool.
- What about WA tax credits?
While Washington doesn’t have a state income tax, it does have an additional tax credit, the Working Families Tax Credit, for its residents who qualify for the EITC. Refunds for qualifying families are typically issued within 90 days, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue.
