Where's My Tax Refund?
By: Tax Hotline
Spring 2025 (Vol. 43, No. 1)
Q: I e-filed my return in March and now my refund is way overdue. I cannot get through to anyone on the IRS phone line. Where can I get information on my refund?
A: Go online to www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund or you can use the mobile app 'IRS2Go'. You will need to know your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN), your filing status, and the exact refund amount on your return. To check an amended return, visit 'Where’s My Amended Return?'
In general, e-filed returns will take around 21 days to process while paper returns averaging around six weeks. Amended returns will take from three to six months. If your return has any errors or requires special handling, that will also delay your refund.
Q: Can I expect the same processing time for a business return?
A: Electronically filed original returns are currently averaging 21 days processing time. Businesses filing original paper returns with form 1120 series are processing within six weeks but if you are amending form 1120 your response time is currently six to eight months. If you are filing an amended form 941 or estates filing amended form 1041 could wait up to eighteen months or longer for a response.
Q: I filed my 2023 return late in January 2025. I was due a large refund and I haven’t received it yet. Should I just refile it?
A: Filing the same tax return again typically won’t speed up your refund and could cause delays. You should resubmit your tax return, electronically if possible, only if ALL of these apply:
- You are due a refund
- You filed on paper more than 6 months ago
- 'Where’s My Refund' doesn’t show the IRS received your return
Q: When is it more productive to just call the IRS?
A: The IRS currently encourages online contact but there will be circumstances when the 'Where’s My Refund' site will recommend you contact them and they will provide the number they want you to call.
If you need to call the IRS, their hotlines are open Monday-Friday. The number for individuals is 800-829-1040. For businesses call 800-829-4933. Wait times are typically longer on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Q: I registered for an individual Tax Account on IRS.gov. Do I need a separate account for my business?
A: Yes. The IRS Business Tax Account provides information to sole proprietors, partners of partnerships, and shareholders of S corporations and C corporations. Eligible business taxpayers who set up an account can use the hub to make electronic payments, schedule or cancel future payments and access other tools. They can also view their current balances, payment history, other business tax records, and digital copies of select IRS notices.
Q: I was e-filing my return and received a message telling me that my child who is my dependent has already been claimed on another tax return. I am the only one legally eligible to claim my child. What should I do?
A: This is especially frustrating because the IRS cannot disclose the name of the person who claimed your dependent. But don’t jump to conclusions, someone may have put in your child’s social by accident. Also, be sure that you have entered your dependent’s information correctly.
Next, use the Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov, verify you meet the requirements to claim the dependent(s). Once you verify another person was not eligible to claim your dependent(s), you can file your return and claim your dependent. You may not be able to e-file so be prepared to mail a paper return.
Don’t attach any extra information or documents to the return to prove your eligibility to claim a dependent. About two months after you file your return, you will typically receive a letter from the IRS with instructions on what you need to do to prove you are the only person eligible to claim the dependent.
The other person who claimed the dependent will get the same letter. If one of you do not file an amended return that removes the child-related benefits, then you both may be audited by the IRS to determine who can claim the dependent.
If you receive a CP75A Notice, it means the IRS is investigating the information you’ve provided and needs additional documentation to verify the dependent exemption(s) and filing status you claimed on your tax return. For more information on dependents, your options and rights check out IRS Publication 501.