How long does it take to receive your refund from the IRS?

The average time it takes to receive a refund from the IRS is 21 days after the return is filed, according to the IRS. Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online at the IRS website.

The IRS has a refund status tool called Where's My Refund?. When using this tool, the taxpayer must provide his Social Security number, filing status and the exact amount of his anticipated refund, explains the IRS. The IRS updates the refund status once every 24 hours. The IRS recommends that taxpayers only inquire about their tax refunds via phone after 21 days have passed since the IRS received the return.