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With the 2025 tax season set to begin in January 2025, taxpayers had to start preparing to file their tax returns. With tax returns, taxpayers are always asked about tax refund dates. The article covers the complete federal tax refund payment schedule with dates for taxpayers.
Federal tax refund payment date
The 2025 tax season will begin in January 2025, and taxpayers who overpaid will receive a tax refund from the IRS. Most taxpayers who file their taxes wonder when they will receive their tax refund.
According to the Tax Administration, the agency processes tax refunds for taxpayers who filed their tax return electronically within 21 days of filing when everything is in order on the return. If taxpayers filed their tax return by paper check, they select a paper check as their refund payment method, their refund may take approximately 60 days after filing their federal tax return via e-file or paper check.
Taxpayers should understand that their tax refund payment depends on the tax return date, payment method and whether they have submitted any credits. Taxpayers who claimed Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit may have to wait for their tax refunds even if they filed early because of the PATH Act, which restricts the agency from processing tax refunds until February 15, 2024.
So taxpayers can expect their e-filed tax return and direct deposit tax return in one or three weeks, paper-filed but direct deposit tax return in three weeks, e-filed but paper check in 30 days, and return in paper form with return via paper check in 60 days.
Federal tax refund payment schedule
Taxpayers can mark the following tax refund dates for tax year 2024 due in 2025 based on their tax returnMr dates:
| Federal tax return filed/accepted/approved | Direct deposit payment date | Paper check date |
| January 15 – January 29, 2025 | February 5, 2025 | February 20, 2025 |
| January 29 – February 9, 2025 | February 20, 2025 | March 5, 2025 |
| February 10 – February 15, 2025 | March 5, 2025 | March 17, 2025 |
| February 16 – February 23, 2025 | March 17, 2025 | March 28, 2025 |
| February 24 – March 1, 2025 | March 28, 2025 | April 6, 2025 |
| March 2 – March 10, 2025 | April 6, 2025 | April 16, 2025 |
| March 11 – March 19, 2025 | April 16, 2025 | April 24, 2025 |
| March 20 – March 26, 2025 | April 24, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
| March 27 – March 31, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | May 9, 2025 |
| April 1 – April 10, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | May 14, 2025 |
| April 11 – April 15, 2025 | May 14, 2025 | May 21, 2025 |
Important Note: If you claimed EITC/ACTC credits with your 2024 tax return, your refund will be processed after February 15, 2024, so if you chose Direct Deposit, you may receive it after February 24, 2025, or if you chose for a paper check, you can get a refund until March 10, 2025.
How do I check the status of my federal tax refund?
The IRS has made it possible for taxpayers to track their tax refund status through its Where’s My Refund tool so that taxpayers are aware of their tax refund and refund stage. The IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool tells you the status of your tax refund in three stages, such as:
- Refund accepted, which means the IRS has reviewed and accepted your federal tax return.
- Return Approved, which means the agency has reviewed your return and approved the return.
- A refund has been sent, which means that the agency has processed and sent your refund via what you chose on your tax return.
IRS taxpayers can track their tax refund status on the Where’s My Refund tool either through the official IRS website or the IRS2Go mobile app. You can track your tax refund status after the following federal tax refund times:
- 24 hours of e-submission of the tax return
- 4 weeks if you submitted a paper check federal tax return
- 3 to 4 days if you are applyingMr tax refund status for the previous year’s application
When you submit a return, you can verify the return with the following information:
- Your social security number
- Tax year
- Refund amount
- And your tax filing status
What can delay the payment of a federal tax refund?
Tax refunds can be delayed or missing for many taxpayers for many reasons, so taxpayers should be aware of these reasons in order to understand the federal tax refund process and take the necessary actions:
- Your tax refund may be delayed due to incorrect or missing information in your filed tax return. Although the agency will inform you of any information that may be required to review your tax return, you must ensure that you submit a valid tax return with correct information in order for your return to be accepted.
- Your bank account that you provided on your tax return is invalid or there is an error in your bank account.
- Your mailing address changed during the entire refund process and you filed for a tax refund via checks.
- You’ve opted for EITC/ACTC credits that limit your tax refund process until February 15, 2024, so you can’t get a refund until then.
When to contact the Tax Administration regarding a tax refund?
When you check your IRS tax refund on the Where’s My Refund tool on the IRS website or mobile app, you can contact the agency when the tool recommends that you contact the agency. Taxpayers should understand that the IRS refund status tool shows what the IRS system shows, so there is no need to call them after waiting in line.
However, if you need to make some changes in your postal address or bank account details, you can contact the agency or visit your nearest IRS office to know the entire correction process.
The IRS processes your tax refund depending on your tax refund payment method and how you filed your tax return, so to make sure you get your tax refund the fastest, you must file your return electronically and select the direct deposit method for your tax refund payment.
