When will the irs start processing electronic returns

Table of Contents

1. IRS Refund Schedule for Direct Deposits and Check Refunds
1. How to use the tax refund chart:
2. 2022 Tax Refund Schedule (2021 Tax Year)
1. When Will My Refund Be Available?
3. Important Tax Filing Dates and Refund Dates
1. When can I file my tax return?
2. When are taxes due?
3. How long does it take to receive my tax refund?
4. Are there any expected tax refund delays?
4. How Should You Request to Receive Your Refund?
5. Tax Refund Schedule for Extensions and Amended Tax Returns
6. How to Check the Status of Your Tax Return
7. Get a Larger Tax Refund Next Year
8. Getting Tax Relief if You Owe Money
9. 2021 Tax Refund Schedule (2020 Tax Year)
10. 2020 Tax Refund Schedule (2019 Tax Year)

When Can I File My Tax Return? The 2022 tax season officially opens Jan. 24. You can begin filing your 2021 return through IRS Free File Jan. 14. More than 90% of tax refunds are processed and issued within 21 days.

The IRS processes tax returns as it receives them. If you file your tax return electronically, the IRS will generally process direct deposit refunds within 7-10 days of receiving your tax return, and process paper checks within about two weeks. Filing a paper tax return may delay your refund by up to several weeks.

When Can I File My Tax Return? The 2022 tax season officially opens Jan. 24. You can begin filing your 2021 return through IRS Free File Jan. 14. More than 90% of tax refunds are processed and issued within 21 days.

In filing your federal tax return, you may have a few questions: How much tax will I pay? How much will I get back in my tax refund? When will I receive it? 

There is no quick and easy answer to the first two questions. However, we can give you a rough idea of when you will receive your tax refund – but only if you file your federal taxes electronically using a software program or with the IRS e-File. Nine out of 10 taxpayers receive their tax refunds within 21 days when they file electronically.

Expect longer delays if you file your return on paper because it takes longer for the IRS to process your paperwork. The tax refund chart below offers more information on when to expect tax refunds.

In the military?

Learn how military members can file a free tax return

IRS Refund Schedule for Direct Deposits and Check Refunds

The following tax refund table is based on previous refund tables released by the IRS to help taxpayers know when they should receive their tax refunds. The IRS moved to the Modernized e-File System (MEF) in 2013 (2012 tax year). The IRS only issued refunds once per week under the old system. They now issue refunds every business day, Monday through Friday (except holidays).

Due to changes in the IRS auditing system, they no longer release a full schedule as they did in previous years. The following chart is based on IRS statements, published guidelines and estimates from past years. This IRS refund schedule should only be used as a rough guideline.

How to use the tax refund chart:

• Use the left-hand column to look up the date your tax return was accepted by the IRS
• Use the middle or right column to look up when you should receive your refund (depending on how you requested your refund – direct deposit or paper check).

If you filed your taxes with e-File, you should receive a confirmation that your federal tax return was accepted by the IRS. This date will go in the left column. If you didn’t file your taxes electronically, then this chart may not be useful for you for two reasons: you won’t have a confirmation date regarding when your tax return was accepted, and paper tax returns are manually entered by IRS employees, so the process takes longer.

You will also note that this chart covers dates beyond the traditional filing date. If you file after April 18, 2022, then you should file a tax extension request. It’s simple to do and can potentially save you a lot of money in penalties.

Note: Military members deployed during the tax year may be eligible for additional tax deadline extensions.

Note: The IRS e-File open date is Jan. 14, 2022. The IRS will begin accepting and processing returns Jan. 24, 2022. You can try to extrapolate the refund date based on the below chart.

*Note: Again, these are estimated dates based on previous tax refund schedules released by the IRS. The IRS no longer publishes these tax refund charts, due to their auditing process.

When Will My Refund Be Available?

Keep in mind that it may take a few days for your financial institution to make your deposit available to you, or it may take several days for the check to arrive in the mail. Keep this in mind when planning to use your tax refund. The IRS states to allow for five additional days for the funds to become available to you. In almost all cases, a direct deposit will get you your tax refund more quickly than in five days, and in some cases, it will be available immediately.

Important Tax Filing Dates and Refund Dates

When can I file my tax return?

The first official day to file your 2021 tax return is Jan. 24, 2022. However, many tax software programs will allow you to complete your return and “file” it before that date, including IRS Free File, which opens Jan. 14. They will then hold the returns until the IRS begins accepting them. Some taxpayers who submit their electronic tax return early may be able to participate in the IRS HUB Testing program. This is a controlled testing of the federal tax return system. The IRS processes a small percentage of tax returns from major software providers to test the tax return submission process and allow for fixing bugs before opening the doors to all taxpayers.

When are taxes due?

Last year was another unusual year for taxes, with the IRS automatically extending the tax filing deadline and the date federal income tax payments were due. There has been no such announcement this year.

The tax filing deadline for most individuals and businesses for the 2021 tax year is April 18, 2022.*

April 15 is the tax deadline for most years unless it falls on a weekend or an observed holiday. April 16th is the observed holiday for Emancipation Day for Washington DC, which may impact the tax-filing deadline in some years. In 2022, April 16 falls on a Saturday, and Emancipation Day will be observed on Friday, April 15.

* Notes: 

• Because Maine and Massachusetts celebrate Patriots Day on April 18, the tax-filing deadline for residents is April 19, 2022.
• The tax-filing deadline was extended to May 16, 2022 for those who live in states that were devastated by the December 2021 tornadoes, namely Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. You do not need to file an extension if this applies to you.

You can file a tax extension if you are not ready to file your taxes by the deadline. This year, the tax deadline when you file an extension is Oct. 17; however, any federal income tax payments are due by the original tax-filing deadline. It is recommended to make an estimated tax payment prior to the tax deadline if you believe you will owe federal taxes.

How long does it take to receive my tax refund?

Approximately 90% of taxpayers will receive their refunds in less than 21 days from the day their tax return was accepted by the IRS. Most people receive their refunds in an average of 10-14 days.

Your bank will usually make your payment available within one to three days of receiving the payment from the IRS. Checks may take longer to clear your bank.

Are there any expected tax refund delays?

Yes, tax refund delays are common. The IRS is required by federal law to withhold tax refunds for taxpayers who claim Earned Income Tax Credits and Additional Child Tax Credit until at least Feb. 15, 2022. Keep in mind it can still take a week to receive your refund after the IRS releases it. So some people who file early may experience delays while awaiting their refunds. Refunds should be processed normally after this date.

Note: There may be delays for the 2021 tax year. The IRS continues to work through a backlog of tax returns (6.3 million as of Dec. 18, 2021), including those with errors and amended returns. 

The IRS recommends filing your tax return electronically for faster processing and tax refund payments.

Also note that new identity theft protections and anti-fraud measures may hold up some refunds, as some federal tax returns may be held for further review.

How Should You Request to Receive Your Refund?

The IRS gives you three options for receiving your refund:

• Direct deposit (you can split your refund and have it sent to up to three banks)
• Paper check (sent to your home)
• Deposit into U.S. Savings Bonds

You can also apply a refund to any future taxes owed. This is a popular choice among some small business owners who are required to pay estimated taxes.

Of the three refund options available to you, direct deposit is the fastest and safest option. You can receive your refund via an ACH bank transaction in as little as a few days. Paper checks, however, can take over a week to process, several days to travel via the postal system, and several days to clear your bank.

*Note:Some tax software companies also offer the option of receiving a tax refund on a prepaid debit card. I’m not particularly fond of this option, but it is available to some tax filers. In this case, the refund is first sent to the tax preparation company, then they issue you the prepaid debit card.

Tax Refund Schedule for Extensions and Amended Tax Returns

The refund schedule should be the same if you filed for a tax extension; however, there is no official schedule for tax refunds for amended tax returns. The above list only includes dates for e-filing an original tax return. Amended tax returns are processed manually and often take eight-12 weeks to process. If you do not receive an amended tax return refund within eight weeks after you file it, then you should contact the IRS to check on the status.us.

How to Check the Status of Your Tax Return

You should be able to check IRS tax refund status roughly 24 hours after you receive confirmation from the IRS that they have received your tax refund via e-File. You will need to wait at least four weeks if you mailed in your tax return.

The best way to check the status of your federal tax refund is to visit the Where’s My Refund page at the IRS website.

What you will need:

• Social Security number
• Filing Status
• Exact refund amount

You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 or 1-800-829-4477 or 1-800-829-1040 and inquire about your tax return status with an IRS customer service representative. Note that the IRS only updates tax return statuses once a day during the week, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. They do not update the status more than once a day, so checking throughout the day will not give you a different result.

Should I call the IRS to check my federal tax refund status?

The IRS has stated you should only call them if it has been:

• 21 days or more since you e-filed
• Six weeks or more since you mailed your return, or when
• “Where’s My Refund” tells you to contact the IRS

Get a Larger Tax Refund Next Year

If you want a bigger tax refund next year, then there are a few ways you can increase the amount of money the government will give you as a tax refund. One of the easiest ways is by contributing to a tax-deferred retirement plan such as a 401(k), the Thrift Savings Plan, or by opening a Traditional IRA, which allows you to deduct up to an additional $5,500 on your taxes each year (up to $6,500 if you are age 50 or older). You can open an IRA in a variety of locations, including banks, brokerage firms, independent advisors and more.

Getting Tax Relief if You Owe Money

If you go through the tax filing process and come out owing the government money, there are options for getting tax relief. Some of the top companies to help with getting relief for taxes owed are:

2021 Tax Refund Schedule (2020 Tax Year)

The IRS 2021 tax season (2020 tax year) was scheduled to begin Feb. 12, 2021.

Due to the pandemic, the IRS automatically extended the federal tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines to July 15, 2021. The extended deadlines applied to individuals, including those who are self-employed, as well as trusts and corporations.

2020 Tax Refund Schedule (2019 Tax Year)

The IRS e-File open date was scheduled for Jan. 21, 2020.The pandemic in 2020 caused the IRS to extend the 2019 tax-filing deadline from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers were also able to defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax. The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days. More info.