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Tax season is upon us, and it’s usually not a great time for most people. Not only is it super confusing to navigate, but nobody likes to deal with the IRS! Something nerve-wracking about filing taxes, am I right?! Regardless, it’s important to know the timeline and tax refund schedule these days.
For the majority of tax filers, the IRS usually sends out refunds within less than 21 days from the date the filed return was received by the IRS. Pretty straight forward.
To make it a bit easier for you, we’ve put together the tax refund schedule so you can estimate when you should expect your tax refund. This is going to be very dependent on when you filed. Here are some tax refund schedules for you.
When will I receive my Tax Refund?
You will typically receive your Tax Refund within 21 days from the date the return was received by the IRS. Exceptions do occur but this has been the norm for 90% of tax filers.
Here is a typical tax refund schedule chart of when you should expect your tax refund:
| Date Filed | Expected Refund Date (DIRECT DEPOSIT) | Expected Refund Date (CHECK) |
|---|---|---|
| February 12th | February 26 | March 5 |
| February 14 | March 5 | March 12 |
| February 21 | March 12 | March 19 |
| February 28 | March 19 | March 26 |
| March 7 | March 26 | April 2 |
| March 14 | April 2 | April 9 |
| March 21 | April 9 | April 16 |
| March 28 | April 16 | April 23 |
| April 4 | April 23 | April 30 |
| April 11 | April 30 | May 7 |
| April 18 | May 7 | May 14 |
| April 25 | May 14 | May 21 |
| May 2 | May 21 | May 28 |
| May 9 | May 28 | June 4 |
| May 16 | June 4 | June 11 |
| May 23 | June 11 | June 18 |
| May 30 | June 18 | June 25 |
| June 6 | June 25 | July 2 |
| June 13 | July 2 | July 9 |
| June 20 | July 9 | July 16 |
| June 27 | July 16 | July 23 |
| July 4 | July 23 | July 30 |
| July 11 | July 30 | August 6 |
| July 18 | August 6 | August 13 |
| July 25 | August 13 | August 20 |
It’s also important to remember that the above dates are just estimates and a are to give you a good idea based on which date you filed your taxes.
To track the status of your refund, you can use the official IRS tool called Get Refund Status. This link will give you the exact status of you return and refund status.
Is it faster to e-file or mail in my tax return?
In the majority of cases, it’s usually faster to file your tax return electronically. Since you don’t have to factor in the postal system transit time and the manual effort of the IRS entering your information, e-file is instant.
What if I miss the tax filing deadline?
Your tax return deadline is due on April 15th. If you file your taxes after this deadline, you could face late fees or other penalties. If you genuinely need more time to file your taxes, you can request an extension directly from the IRS. This form is called Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
What if I owe taxes?
Regardless if you file an extension to file, you are still obligated to pay any taxes that you owe by April 15th. If you need more help, make sure you reach out to your local tax professional that can help you navigate the complicated world that is taxes!
You should also refer to this article if you owe the IRS more money than you can afford to pay back:
How to Settle Your Taxes with the IRS – Guide