The 2026 tax season is about to begin in the US. The Internal Revenue Service will likely begin return processing by the third week of January 2026, and taxpayers will receive their refund within the due timeline.
If you are one of the taxpayers who are all set to file tax year 2025 returns, then you must know that after filing, it takes some time to get processed. This time is different for electronic refunds and on-paper returns.
The tax return processing takes time because once it is filed, it goes through the different stages. To know the answers to what those stages are and what their meanings are, make sure to read this article thoroughly.
What are the different stages of the IRS Refund 2026?
After a tax return is filed, it goes through various stages before the refund is received. There are three main stages: received, approved, and sent. If you’re not familiar with what these stages mean, read the following points.
- Received: This means that the agency has received your tax return but has not reviewed it yet.
- Approved: This means that the agency has approved your return but has yet to release your refund.
- Send: This means that your refund has been sent by the agency.
Starting from tax season 2026, the IRS will no longer handle refunds via paper check. All refunds will be received by direct deposit only. This means you will receive your payment within a few hours of the IRS sending it.
What’s the IRS Refund 2026 timeline?
Once you file your return for tax year 2025, it will take processing time, depending on the filing process. We’ve listed the details below.
- If you file your tax return electronically, it can take up to three weeks for your refund to be received. After e-filing, the return is received by the IRS within 24 hours of filing, which then takes 10 to 13 days to be reviewed, and then the refund is received within 7 days.
- If you file your tax return on paper, you’ll have to wait at least 6 weeks to receive your refund. After filing an on-paper return, it’s received by the IRS within 1 week, but they only add it to their system four weeks after the filing date. Once it’s added, it takes about a week to review, and then a refund is sent within the next week.
If you claim tax credits like EITC or CTC on your return, it may take a little longer to receive your refund. This is because there’s a law, the PATH Act, that prevents the IRS from processing any refunds that include a tax credit claim before February 15th.
You will face a delay only if you file your return with these tax credits at an early stage. If you file after mid-February 2025, you will receive your refund as per the regular timeline.
How to check the IRS Refund 2026 status?
The complete step-by-step instructions to check the 2026 IRS tax refund are listed as points; please follow them to check if your refund is received, approved, or sent.
- Go to the official website of the Internal Revenue Service.
- Navigate to ‘Tools & applications,’ and click on ‘Where’s My Refund?’.
- Tap on the ‘Check your refund’ button.
- Enter your Social Security Number.
- Choose the Tax Year as 2025.
- Opt for the filing status as Single, Married-Filing Joint Return, Married-Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving Spouse.
- Fill in the refund amount.
- Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
To check the refund status, a taxpayer who e-files has to wait at least 24 hours, and an on-paper return filer has to wait at least 4 weeks. If you try to check before the waiting period, you get to see nothing.
Disclaimer: IRS Refund 2026 information is for general awareness only. Official refund dates and amounts are determined by the IRS.