When will my refund arrive?
Add your IRS account transcript. You get the most likely day and the reason for any delay, from people in exactly your situation.
Your account transcript
The PDF from your IRS online account. Drop it here.
Read in this browser, never uploaded. Only transaction codes and their dates are used.
No transcript? Answer five questions.
The acceptance date from your tax software's email is enough for a first estimate. Add the transcript later for the reason behind any delay.
Last season, week by week.
Refunds the IRS had issued by each Friday of the 2026 season, against the same week of 2025. The crowd board for 2027 replaces this as timelines come in.
| Week ending | Refunds issued | Average refund | Returns received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6 | 7,403,000-8.1% vs 2025 | $2,290$2,065 in 2025 | 22,351,000 |
| Feb 13 | 12,957,000-5.1% vs 2025 | $2,476$2,169 in 2025 | 32,175,000 |
| Feb 20 | 28,738,000-3.0% vs 2025 | $3,804$3,453 in 2025 | 41,892,000 |
| Feb 27 | 36,506,000-1.1% vs 2025 | $3,742$3,382 in 2025 | 51,491,000 |
| Mar 6 | 43,750,000+0.2% vs 2025 | $3,676$3,324 in 2025 | 60,719,000 |
| Mar 13 | 50,391,000+1.1% vs 2025 | $3,623$3,271 in 2025 | 69,707,000 |
| Mar 20 | 56,729,000+1.8% vs 2025 | $3,571$3,221 in 2025 | 78,893,000 |
| Mar 27 | 62,957,000+2.2% vs 2025 | $3,521$3,170 in 2025 | 88,424,000 |
| Apr 3 | 69,818,000+3.1% vs 2025 | $3,462$3,116 in 2025 | 99,802,000 |
| Apr 10 | 78,050,000+4.3% vs 2025 | $3,397$3,055 in 2025 | 114,333,000 |
| Apr 17 | 90,411,000+5.1% vs 2025 | $3,275$2,942 in 2025 | 140,222,000 |
| Apr 24 | 95,743,000+6.1% vs 2025 | $3,268$2,945 in 2025 | 142,225,000 |
| May 1 | 97,918,000+6.5% vs 2025 | $3,273$2,947 in 2025 | 143,667,000 |
| May 8 | 99,138,000+6.0% vs 2025 | $3,276$2,939 in 2025 | 144,992,000 |
Cumulative figures from the IRS's weekly filing season statistics. Before mid-February the totals exclude refunds held by law for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit.
More tools.
Everything around your refund, in one place.
- State refundsWhere your state refund is, with each state's official tool and timing.
- IRS phoneThe right number, whether it is open now, and the best hour to call.
- PaycheckTake-home pay in every state, with the 2026 federal tables.
- Tax refund calculatorHow much you get back, on the IRS's own withholding estimator rules.
- Payment planOwe the IRS? Monthly payment, fees and interest before you apply.
- Codes and lettersEvery transcript code, reference code, cycle code and IRS letter in plain words.
Questions people ask
How long does an IRS refund take?
The IRS issues most e-filed refunds in fewer than 21 days. Paper returns take 6 weeks or more, and amended returns 8 to 12 weeks, sometimes up to 16. Refunds that include the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit cannot be issued before mid-February.
Why use my transcript instead of Where's My Refund?
Where's My Refund shows three stages and gives a date only once the refund is approved. The account transcript shows every code the IRS posted, such as a 570 hold or an 846 refund, which is what the forecast is built from.
Where do I get my account transcript?
Sign in to your IRS Individual Online Account, open Tax Records, and download the Account Transcript (not the Return Transcript) for the year you filed.
Is my transcript uploaded?
No. The PDF is read inside your browser. Only the transaction codes and their dates are used to build the forecast; your name, SSN, address and amounts never leave your device.
What does code 846 mean?
Code 846 is "Refund of overpayment": the IRS issued your refund on the date next to it. Direct deposits usually arrive within days; checks take longer.
Sources
- IRS: Where's My Refund?
- IRS: Tax Topic 152, Refund information
- IRS: Where's My Amended Return?
- IRS: When to expect your refund if you claimed the EITC or ACTC
- IRS: Get transcript
- IRM 21.4.1, Refund Research
- IRS Document 6209 (2023)
Checked against these sources on October 30, 2026.