Check on Your Refund — and Find Out Why the IRS Might Not Send It
It’s that time of year when many people who filed their tax returns in April are checking their mail or bank accounts to see if their refunds have landed. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 calendar days. However, it may take longer — and in rare cases, refunds might not come at all.
Your refund status
If you’re curious about when your refund will arrive, you can use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Go to https://bit.ly/2cl5MZo and click “Check My Refund Status.” You’ll need your Social Security number, your filing status (single, married joint filer, etc.) and your exact refund amount.
In some cases, taxpayers who are expecting a refund may be notified that all or part of their refunds aren’t going to be paid. A number of situations can cause this to happen.
Refunds settle debts
The Treasury Offset Program can use all, or part, of a refund to settle certain debts, including:
- Past-due federal tax debts,
- State income tax obligations,
- Past-due child and spousal support,
- Federal agency debts such as a delinquent student loan, and
- Certain unemployment compensation owed to a state.
If the federal government is going to “offset” a refund […]