How To Check The Status Of Your Tax Refund Online

Most people are very happy to find out they will be getting a tax refund after filling out their tax returns. If you are one of these individuals, here is how to check the status of your tax refund online.

Checking The Status of Your Tax Refund Online 

Before we get into checking your tax return status, I feel that I should first mention a couple of things about tax refunds.  One has t do with the nature of refund and the other consists of Internet scams.   

If you are getting a sizeable refund, you have to carefully think how much money you're deducting from paychecks or paying in quarterly taxes.  Although a tax refund could appear to be a good thing at first, it actually is not.  If you over pay your taxes throughout the year, you are basically offering the government a free loan.  The IRS doesn't pay interest on any excessive tax payments, so you are really taking it in the pants by not adjusting your tax payments.   

The other issue to bear in mind is that you could just check the status of your tax refund online by going to the IRS website.  With phishing scams focusing on tax issues, you might get emails regarding any and all facets of tax refunds.  These emails are scams!  The IRS does not send you emails, and certainly doesn't alert you to the fact that you're due a refund.  If you like to check on your refund, go to the IRS web site and nowhere else.  Avoid turning a good thing like a tax refund into a bad thing like identity theft.   

To check the status of your tax refund, go to the IRS website by searching for it using the search engine of your choice.  Next, you will click on the:  “Where's My Refund” link on the home page.  Follow the easy steps, click enter and your status will be shown.  By the way, you will need a copy of your tax return.   

When you have completed the above, the IRS software will provide you with a couple of responses.  Summarized, they contain the fact the return has been obtained, but not yet processed; the tax refund has been mailed or wired to your bank account on a certain date; or notice the IRS was not able to deliver the refund to you as a result of several mailing problem.  The IRS will also let you know if the refund was delayed due to issues with your tax return.   

Once more, you should tweak your tax payments if you are due a sizeable refund.  There is little reason to give the government a free loan throughout the year.  They are already taking too much of your money.