How long a tax refund takes, step by step
Refund timelines for e-filed and mailed returns, the February 15 credit hold, and what slows a refund down.
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Read the full guide: Tax Refund Timeline: How Long Each Filing Method Takes
Transcript
How long will your refund take?
Most refunds from e-filed returns are issued within 21 days of the e-file date, according to the IRS.
A mailed paper return takes six weeks or more from the day the IRS receives it.
By law, returns claiming the earned income credit or additional child tax credit cannot be refunded before February 15.
After identity verification, a refund can take up to nine weeks from the date you verify.
An amended return on Form 1040-X takes eight to twelve weeks, and sometimes up to sixteen.
The IRS has not yet announced when the 2027 filing season opens. We update the guide when it does.
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