After your tax refund is approved by the IRS, it typically takes about 1 to 3 weeks for the refund to show up in your bank account if you chose direct deposit and filed electronically. The IRS states that more than 90% of refunds are issued within 21 days of accepting your e-filed return

. Here are key points about timing:

• If you e-file and select direct deposit, expect your refund within about 21 days from the date the IRS accepts your return

• Paper filing or requesting a paper check can extend the wait to 4 to 8 weeks

• Banks usually take 1 to 2 days to process the deposit once the IRS sends the refund, but it can sometimes be faster

• Refunds claiming certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) may be delayed due to IRS rules, potentially holding refunds until late February or longer

In summary, once your refund is approved, the direct deposit usually appears in your bank account within a few days, with the entire process from IRS acceptance to deposit generally under three weeks for electronically filed returns with direct deposit