How long does it take to receive a tax refund?

The amount of time it takes to receive a tax refund is an average of 21 days after the tax return is filed. Tax returns are issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS recommends that callers only inquire by phone after 21 days passes, and once the return is received.

A tax return can be tracked using the "Where's My Refund?" tool available on the IRS website. When using the tool, specific information must be provided, including a Social Security number, filing status and the exact number of the refund. This tool receives regular updates once every 24 hours.