How Long Does It Take for Tax Refund to Show in Bank Account After Approved?

After filing a tax refund due to overpayment of taxes, either to the state government or the federal government, you may be waiting for a refund to show up in your bank account, right? But you might be disappointed if you keep checking your account balance and end up with a refund that was never received.

Sure, no matter how hard you work on your tax refund, the IRS processing time is what determines how long or short it’ll take for you to receive your refund. So that you don’t keep hoping that you will get a refund in a short time, you definitely must learn how long the IRS will issue a refund after your tax refund request is approved.

Okay, here’s everything you can know about IRS tax refunds!

When Can You Receive a Tax Refund in Your Bank Account After Approved?

When it comes to how long it will take you to receive your tax refund, it actually depends on what payment you chose when filling out your tax return. The IRS will send the debt to you after your tax refund request is processed and approved, and you’re really entitled to the refund. And this isn’t short.

After the IRS approves your tax refund, it will take several days for your bank to process and send the direct deposit to your account. Depending on how busy the bank or credit union is, the direct deposit may be issued on the same business day, but some institutions may proceed with it longer.

There’s no doubt that the fastest option to get a tax refund is via direct deposit into your bank account. Generally, refunds this way can take 21 days from the day the IRS receives your tax refund. But it may also take additional time, up to a few days, for your bank to transfer the refund amount directly to your bank account.

How Long Will My Tax Refund Via Paper Check Take?

If you submit a tax return via paper check, or if there are issues with your direct deposit, such as incorrect information in your bank account or in your bank details, you can receive your tax refund through a paper check. After your refund request is approved, the IRS will send a paper check to the address on your tax return.

However, this method could take longer than a direct deposit. Due to postal delivery times, it may often take several weeks or even a few months. If you want to receive your tax refund faster, consider choosing direct deposit when filing a tax return or making a refund request.

Comparison of Tax Refund Processing Times: E-File vs. Paper File

To make it easier for you to understand which is faster, E-File vs. Paper File, in processing a federal tax refund, you can take a look at the comparison table below!

As you can see from the table, E-File is a faster method, and the process will reach the IRS instantly. Thus, the tax refund for this method will generally be processed faster, within 3 weeks.

Otherwise, the paper file will take longer to reach the IRS. After it does, the tax refund will be processed manually and take more time. Refunds submitted in paper form can take longer, sometimes up to six to eight weeks.

But the comparison table above is just a guideline. Of course, the majority of submitters expect to receive a tax refund within these time frames.

Why is the IRS Processing Your Tax Refund Longer Than Expected?

There are several reasons why you have not received your tax return after more than 21 days. And some things that may happen include:

• • There are errors on your SPT, even if they are as trivial as typos or calculation errors.
  • Incomplete forms, such as one line on a tax form that is left unfilled, are a problem. If this happens, the IRS will ask you to fix it first before they can process your return.
  • If you file a return very early or at the last minute, your application could be delayed regarding the IRS workflow.
  • There are errors in the submission, such as filling out the form incorrectly or entering the wrong filing status. These errors, especially large ones, can affect the speed of your tax filing process, and you may also be confused about how to do it again.
  • You are using your Social Security number fraudulently, which could affect your tax return filing.
  • Your tax refund may be withheld or even taken by the IRS if you have unpaid debts, such as past-due child support or unpaid tax payments. Additionally, the IRS may withhold all or part of your refund.
  • Your bank may face various problems that can delay sending the tax refund to your account.

Okay, those are several reasons why your tax return takes a long time and your tax refund gets delayed.

How Can You Know That Your Tax Refund Will Be Received?

It’s a pretty simple thing to know the estimated time when you will receive your refund. Thanks to the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, you can simply check the status of your tax refund. You can access the tool via the official website of the IRS at → irs.gov/wheres-my-refund.

To check the status of your refund, you must provide:

• • Your SSN or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
  • Your filing status
  • The exact amount of the refund on your return

Click “Check your refund,” and you can start tracking the status of your refund. Then, you may see some refund statuses on the tool, and each will inform you at what stage your refund status is. Here they are:

• • Return Received: It means that the IRS has received your return and is processing it.
  • Refund Approved: It means that the IRS has approved your tax refund request and is preparing to issue it by the date shown.
  • Refund Send: It means that the IRS has sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. The process may take 5 days for you to receive it in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

Through the “Refund Send” status shown on Where’s My Refund, you can know when you will receive your tax refund. In addition, the tool will also alert you if there’s any issue or additional actions you must take.

Tia Varborough

A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.