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How to Find the Status of Your Tax Refund

The fastest, easiest way to find the status of your refund is to use the Automated Refund on TeleTax at 1-800-829-4477.

Be sure you have a copy of your 1999 income tax return available because you will need to know the first social security number shown on your return, the filing status, and the exact whole-dollar amount of your refund. Then call 1-800-829-4477 and follow the recorded instructions.

Touch-tone service is generally available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Rotary or pulse service is generally available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Hours may vary in your area.)

Wait at least 3 weeks if you filed electronically, or 6 weeks if you mailed your tax return to the IRS before calling to check on your refund status. Refund information will not be available before then.

TIP: The IRS updates refund information every 7 days. If you call to check the status of your refund and are not given the date it will be issued, please wait 7 days before calling back.

If you filed your tax return electronically:

You should receive your refund within 3 weeks.
After that you should have either received a refund or a notice explaining there is a problem with your tax return or refund.

If you mailed your tax return to the IRS:

You should receive your refund within 6 weeks.
After that you should have either:
- received your refund,
- received your tax return back so you can complete it correctly, or
- received a notice explaining there is a problem with your tax return or refund.

For both paper and electronic tax returns:

If you receive a notice and have a question or don't understand the information/explanation provided, call the number on the notice for assistance.
If it has been more than 6 weeks since you filed by mail, or 3 weeks since you filed electronically, there may be another problem with the refund -- lost, stolen, etc. THEN you should call the IRS at 1-800-829-4477 and TeleTax will give further information.