While the majority of United States taxpayers are gathering their financial records to file their 2011 tax returns, according to the IRS over 99,000 tax filers are looking for their 2010 tax refund checks. To assist taxpayers falling within this category, the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool was created.
For the U. S. taxpayer who suspects the U. S. Post Office has returned his or her refund check to the IRS as undelivered, Where’s My Refund? not only provides the status of your refund check; it can also supply instructions on how to correct the postal delivery problems.
Access “Where’s My Refund?” via internet or phone
You can use Where’s My Refund? to learn the status of an e-filed tax refund within 72-hours the IRS processes its receipt, and within three to four weeks for a paper return.
To use the internet version of Where’s My Refund? go to http://www.IRS.gov, or call 1-800-869-1954 for the phone version. However, there is a limited time frame information can be obtained using “Where’s My Refund?”
“Where’s My Refund?” information availability
The length of time your tax refund status information can be obtained via Where’s My Refund? depends on your income tax filing date.
If your individual income tax form(s) were filed prior to July 1, and you believe your refund check was returned to the IRS as undeliverable, Where’s My Refund? can provide refund check information up until the second or third week in December.
For individual income tax form(s) filed on or after July 1, Where’s My Refund will provide refund information during the following year until you file a more current year tax return.
Tax refund information not tracked by “Where’s My Refund?”
You will not be able to obtain tax refund status information using Where’s My Refund? pertaining to an amended tax return. But, after amended tax form filing process is completed, which usually takes from 8 to 12 weeks, information can be obtained by calling 800-829-1040, or 267-941-1000 outside the United States, and for the hearing impaired TTY/TDD: 800-829-4059.
For the small number of tax filers that elect to have their tax refund checks mailed instead of going direct deposit, the chance of a stolen, lost, or undelivered refund check increases. For such taxpayers Where’s My Refund? is a beautiful thing.
