American · Tax timing
IRS refund date estimator.
A practical estimate based on when you filed, whether you e-filed or mailed a paper return, and whether the EITC or ACTC refund hold applies.
The IRS says most e-filed refunds arrive within 21 days after acceptance. Paper returns can take six weeks or longer. EITC and ACTC refunds cannot be issued before mid-February.
Your filing
Estimated timing
Why the estimate can move
This is a timing model, not an IRS promise. Acceptance, identity checks, offsets, amended returns, errors, additional review and your financial institution can all move the deposit date. Direct deposit is usually faster than a paper check, but a bank can still take time to make funds available.
For early 2026 e-filed/direct-deposit returns with EITC or ACTC, the IRS said most taxpayers could expect a refund by March 2, 2026 when the return was complete and issue-free. The official IRS guidance remains the source of truth.
Estimate only
Do not schedule a bill payment around this date. Check Where's My Refund? for your actual IRS status.