Where’s My Refund?
When does IRS accept tax returns in 2016
We anticipate that the IRS will begin processing and accepting tax returns electronically on January 11, 2016. Where’s My Refund Information
When Can You File Taxes in 2016?
Most tax preparers will allow you to enter and submit your tax return beginning the week of January 4, 2016 or January 11, 2016. You don’t need to wait for the IRS to start accepting tax returns to prepare, but you must have the proper forms and paperwork available. Some forms are not available until mid January and some even later. When you submit your return before the IRS begins processing, it will sit in a “queue” and be held until the date that the IRS will officially accept tax returns. If you e-file early and it sits in queue, your return may be sent to the IRS early in a test batch. This has resulted in early direct deposits in the past, but also major glitches because it’s a test.
Where is the IRS Refund Cycle Chart?
2016 Refund Cycle Chart
The most recent tax refund cycle charts have already been published. The official IRS tax refund cycle chart has been eliminated and replaced with an IRS Information Guidelines for the Tax Preparation Community publication. However, various websites with refund calendars for the 2016 tax season (2015 tax year) have been updated with 2016 direct deposit and check mailing dates.
Looking for an IRS phone number or other telephone numbers? Tax Topic 152 or Daily vs. Weekly information?
Where’s My Refund
No need to panic: Tax day is still far off — the 2016 filing deadline this year is April 15. But plenty of early birds have filed well before the deadline, and now they want their refunds. Searches on “where’s my refund” have been adding up on the Web.
The good news is, figuring out when you’ll receive your tax refund from the IRS should be far less taxing this year with some new online tools. Here, some basic questions are answered.
If you e-filed…
According to the IRS, taxpayers who file electronically and select direct deposit can expect a refund the fastest, in about 10 days. If not, expect to receive your refund within 21 days. In fact, the IRS claims that 90 percent of tax refunds are issued within 21 days.
What’s the status of my return?
To find out what’s happened to your refund, go to the IRS website’s “Where’s My Refund” tool,
download the IRS2Go app for smartphones, or watch the instructional video. OK, no points for production value, but hey, the IRS is on YouTube. That’s a start.
When should I check for an update?
To find out when you’ll receive your refund, check 72 hours after you file online or four weeks after you mail in a paper return.
You’ll need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact amount of your refund.
Bear in mind that this is the IRS, so the “estimated refund date” you’ll see on the “Where’s My Refund” site is just that: an estimate. Once you see the IRS has issued a refund, and if you asked for a paper check, well, then, the check is in the mail. And then allow five more days for it to reach you.
What is the fastest way to get a refund?
No question about it: Filing on the Web is the quickest way to a cash return — and that’s partly because filing online means fewer errors on the return — such as an old address — which can slow things down even more. Avoid delays by filing online and have the IRS deposit your refund directly into a checking or savings account.
