The IRS typically takes up to 21 days to process and approve a tax refund for electronically filed (e-filed) returns. Most taxpayers receive their refunds within this 3-week period after the IRS has accepted their return

. For paper-filed returns, the process is longer, generally taking about 4 to 8 weeks due to manual handling and additional processing time

. The refund timeline also depends on how you receive it:

• Direct deposit refunds usually arrive within 1 to 3 weeks after acceptance.
• Paper checks can take 1 to 2 months after acceptance to arrive by mail

Factors that can delay your refund include errors on your tax return, claims for certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), or IRS reviews for verification purposes

. You can track the status of your refund starting 24 hours after e-filing or about 4 weeks after mailing a paper return using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on their website

Summary:

• E-filed returns: up to 21 days (usually faster with direct deposit)
• Paper returns: 4 to 8 weeks
• Direct deposit refund: 1-3 weeks after acceptance
• Mailed check refund: 1-2 months after acceptance
• Delays possible due to errors, credits claimed, or IRS review

This timeline begins once the IRS has accepted your tax return, not from the date you file it