You can generally expect your tax refund based on how you filed and when the IRS accepted your return:

• If you e-filed, refunds typically take up to 21 days to process after IRS acceptance.
• Paper mailed returns take longer, usually 4 to 8 weeks.
• Refunds with certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) may be delayed until around March due to extra IRS review.
• Refunds are usually faster if you choose direct deposit rather than a paper check.

The IRS starts counting the refund process after they accept your return, which usually happens within 24 to 48 hours of e-filing. Most refunds arrive within 21 days after acceptance if no issues arise. Delays may occur due to errors, processing backlog, or if you owe IRS money that is deducted from your refund. If you filed your 2024 taxes, you could have expected refunds rolling out starting from mid-February, continuing weekly into May and June, depending on the exact filing date. You can check your refund status anytime using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" online tool or the IRS2Go app, generally starting 24 hours after acceptance. Summary by filing type and refund method:

Filing Method| Refund Delivery| Expected Time to Refund After IRS Acceptance
---|---|---
E-file| Direct Deposit| Up to 3 weeks (21 days)
E-file| Paper Check| About 4 weeks
Paper Return| Direct Deposit| 4 to 8 weeks
Paper Return| Paper Check| 4 to 9 weeks

Note that these times are estimates and actual timing can vary.