“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” — Leo Tolstoy
Once your 2025 return is finalized, the relief is usually followed by a single question:
How long does it take to receive my tax refund?
Once your return is filed and accepted, the IRS typically processes refunds within 10 to 21 days. But certain factors can slow the process.
For example, if you claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC), your refund might get delayed by about a month. Federal law requires the IRS to hold those refunds temporarily while eligibility is verified.
And if you mail in a paper return, the process can take 6-8 weeks (or longer, depending on processing volume).
You can track your refund’s status through the ‘Where’s My Refund?‘ tool on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app. The system updates once every 24 hours, and you can start checking within a day of e-filing.
Once the IRS approves your refund, it usually takes a few additional days for the deposit to appear in your bank account.
And your state refund is handled separately. Each state has its own refund tracking system through its tax agency website.
If your refund is taking longer than expected, it could be due to an issue with your return (a math error, missing information, or an incorrect filing status), which triggers a manual review.
Another reason could be that the IRS needs additional verification due to identity theft concerns, or you have outstanding federal or state debts that may offset the refund.
Timing can also play a role. Early in the season, the system moves fairly quickly. But near the filing deadline, the IRS experiences heavier volume.
There’s also the chance your refund could be frozen. If youfile your return without including bank account details, the IRS will temporarily freeze the refund instead of automatically issuing a paper check.
The refund will remain on hold until you provide direct deposit information or request that the refund be issued as a paper check.
If your refund has been delayed, check the status through the IRS tracking tools. If the IRS needs additional information, they’ll send a formal letter explaining what’s required.
If you’re anxious about getting your refund, I can help confirm when your return was accepted and see if anything might be slowing the process down.
And if you haven’t filed yet? Let’s make sure you’re set up to get the biggest refund you legally can as quickly as you can from the start.