Tracking tax refunds is quite the adventure this year. Readers are reporting all sorts of data points in how long it takes to get your tax refund back.
Originally the IRS started out with an aggressive one week turnaround on tax refunds for efiled returns.
However, once we got started, they announced a one week tax refund delay.
But then it got worse and after a few more IRS alerts, the IRS thought that returning to the historical range of 10 to 21 days for tax refunds would work for the majority of filers.
But that doesn’t appear to be the case for the majority of My Dollar Plan readers!
Actual Tax Refund Timeframe
Readers have left all sorts of comments about the various timeframes they are (and are not) receiving their tax refunds. So let’s work on compiling the data in an easy format. If you efiled and selected direct deposit, how long did you wait for your tax refund?
Loading ...Which Returns are Delayed?
Based on some questions I got, I reviewed hundreds of comments to try to see if I can find any patterns, including tax returns that I’ve filed. However, it doesn’t appear that the tax refund delays are different depending on which tax bracket or income to file taxes you fall in.
I don’t have enough data yet to see if certain tax credits are being held up longer than other returns. Once we get closer to the tax deadline, maybe we’ll see some additional patterns.
IRS Tax Refund Status
You can track the status of your tax refund with the IRS tools Where’s My Refund? or the IRS Refund Tracker Tax App.
- Hot Free Money Deals: Chase Sapphire $500
- Free Flights: United | Southwest
- Investing Bonuses: Betterment $25 | Lending Club $100
it was first 1 week but IRS couldn’t find it after submitting it 2/3. finally today 2/22 they found it but gave from now until 3/6.
ok I send my form since jan.16.. they received it feb.18 but before that they had told me mar.20…oook then I called and checked wmr and both said feb.21 so I waited for 21 but nothing ok so I called and this guy told mee “there was a lill error w/ the computer but its fixed already and gave me until mar 23 soo I keep checking and it says due to delays ….its proccesing and keeps saying feb 21 andwe are in feb23 oook wth is going on!!!!! ;(
i submited my tax papers on Feb 3 and was supposed to received it by feb.15 2012 well the day came and went and nothing, i checked on line and then it said it would be ready by feb. 28 today is March 3 and i went back to the irs page to check and now it does not even give a date it just says it is being processed and no more info. Why is it taking so long i have always received it within 6-10 days!!!
I am in the same boat file feb 11th supposed to get it by feb. 28th now it is apr. 2nd and i have nothing..
Filed February 22 after I finally got my 1099-DIV/B. Got it today (well deposited the 10th). So 17 days.
Efiled on 3/3/12 through TaxAct. WAS to be deposited today, 3/15/12, but of course, IT’S NOT THERE, lol. We shall see!!
I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOUR COMING FROM B/C I WAS SUPPOSE TO RECEIVE MY TAXES ON FEB 14TH AND HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEM THEN I CALL AND THEY TELL ME TO WAIT FOR A LETTER AND I RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 02/25 AND THEY TELL ME IT CAN TAKE UP TO 60 DAYS AFTER THE LETTER. “THIS IS OUT RAGIOUS”!!!! I HAVE NEVER WAITED THIS LONG ON MY TAXES. I COME TO FIND OUT ITS ALOT OF FRAUDULENT GOING ON AND THE IRS HAS LOST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SO THAT’S WHY THE WAITING GAME IS ON. “ONE APPLE SPOILS THE BUNCH”!!!!! STILL WAITING!!!!
Was told refund would come on 2-26-12. Every other year it was earlier than the given date, leading me to believe it was a no later than xx-xx-xxxx. From what I understand there is a delay of 10 to 21 days. Now on march 30(33 days later) I still haven’t gotten it. everyone else I know already has received theirs and I filed earlier than some of them. Some people(me being one of them) depend on this to catch up from a year of financial difficulty. Went through H&R block and they tell me there’s nothing wrong and just awaiting payment. Am I alone in this lengthy wait period or is this par for the course. They sure don’t hesitate to take but seem to take there time to give.
I filed march 1st and was suppose to get my refund on the 13 th as they day came and went when they final updated it it said I will receive it by April 23 … The. It changed to april 3 today is April 3 and noe it just says that they have received my info and it’s being processed this is very frustrating I’m getting married and that my honey moon money
All of us have gotten the shaft.I actually have 2 friends that work for the IRS and they still haven’t gotten theirs yet.What they haven’t said is that last year they sent out 1 1/2 MILLION tax refunds to identity theft so they got new softwear but apparently in their wisdom they didn’t think they needed to go through several months of testing before putting it into service.I am sure they are still trying to figure out how to spot fraudulent returns and they can hold our returns so we are just screwed.By the way where’s my refund is just spouting dates they really don’t mean anything.You are just lucky if yours actually does come on a certain date.I actually went to the IRS and asked.They have until 60 days after they sent the first letter.In my case it was 33 days after they had accepted my return so by law they until April 17 to either tell you what they need or approve or deny your refund,they don’t even have to tell you why they are holding it until then.