Millions of American taxpayers file their taxes each year expecting a refund. For those who have already filed, the Internal Revenue Service began accepting returns Jan. 26
More than 90% of tax returns are filed online, totaling more than 150 million returns submitted by individuals and tax professionals each year, according to e-file.com.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, is expected to boost refunds for tens of millions of taxpayers this year. The legislation introduced several changes, allowing taxpayers to claim new deductions or credits on their 2026 returns, according to Blavity and BipartisanPolicy.org.
An estimated 164 million Americans are expected to file their taxes during the 2026 tax season, per Blavity.
Here’s everything taxpayers need to know about their tax returns, including how their filing status, the refund waiting period, what to do if the refund is delayed and the last day to file taxes.
How can taxpayers check the status of their tax returns?
Taxpayers can check their refund status using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool at IRS.gov or the IRS2Go mobile app, according to Blavity and the Austin American-Statesman.
To access it, they would have to enter the following information:
-Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
-Your filing status
-The exact refund amount on your return
After entering the information, users will see various statuses based on their recent tax return filing, which include:
Return Received — The IRS has received your return and is processing it.
Refund Approved — The IRS has approved your refund and is preparing to issue it by the date shown.
Refund Sent — The IRS has sent your refund to your bank or by mail. It may take up to five days to appear in your bank account, or several weeks for a paper check to arrive.
How soon can taxpayers expect their tax refunds to arrive?
Refund timing largely depends on how taxpayers filed their returns, with electronic filing being the fastest way to receive their refunds compared to paper returns, per the Austin American-Statesman.
The IRS issues most refunds in less than three weeks but advises taxpayers not to rely on a specific date, as some returns require additional review.
Refund delays can occur for several reasons, including errors, incomplete information, identity theft concerns, corrections to certain tax credits, claims involving the earned income or additional child tax credits, injured spouse filings, or processing times at banks and credit unions.
When is the last day to file taxes?
The deadline for taxpayers to file their taxes is April 15. If they file an extension for more time, they can have until Oct. 15 to file without penalties, per Blavity.
The post 2026 Tax Refunds: When Do Funds Arrive And What To Expect This Year From IRS appeared first on Blavity.
