When can I expect to receive my refund?

If you’re receiving a tax refund in 2023, you should expect to receive your tax refund within three to six weeks. However, there are specific factors that may speed up or delay the timing of your tax refund.

The IRS starts accepting tax returns on January 23, 2023, so don’t expect a refund before this date. At this point, it can take an average of 21 days to receive a refund if you filed your taxes online and 42 days to receive a refund if you filed by mail.

If you’re eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, your refund may arrive a few weeks later. That’s because the IRS cannot process refunds for those claiming the EITC until mid-February.

Since the pandemic, the IRS has experienced a large backlog, which has delayed tax returns, particularly for those filing through the mail substantially. In general, the sooner you file your taxes, the sooner you can expect your refund to come through.

Your refund might also be delayed if the IRS flags an issue in your tax return and audits your paperwork. At this point, your refund would not be sent out until any errors on your taxes were corrected and resubmitted.

You can use the IRS’s “View My Refund” tool to track your refund. You’ll need your Social Security Number, filing status, and refund amount to use this service. The IRS keeps this updated daily. If you don’t receive a refund for an e-filed return in 21 days or for a paper filed return in 42 days, you can reach out to the IRS at 800-829-1040, from 7am to 7pm, local time.