Tax filing season, which began on January 23rd, is in full effect. The IRS says that mid-February is their busiest time of the year for receiving phone calls from taxpayers with questions. However, if you're only interested in your refund, there is an easy way to track it through the IRS website.
The IRS Shows You How to Track Your Tax Refund
Many taxpayers have a refund coming their way, so it's only natural people get a little antsy. However, because of the sheer volume of calls they receive, the IRS has some advice for those eagerly awaiting their refunds.
Just use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website. This nifty webpage allows you to track the status of your refund. Better yet, it is typically updated every 24 hours.
The IRS recommends that you check the status of your refund within 24 hours of filing electronically. If you mailed a paper return, they say to check the status four weeks after mailing.
"Where's My Refund?" will show you your actual refund date once the IRS has processed your return and approved your refund. So if you are looking for the most up-to-date information, checking the "Where's My Refund?" site is the place to go.
This is because IRS customer service representatives typically do not have additional information on refund dates beyond what you can access with the tracking tool. In fact, the agency says you should only call them if:
- It's been 21 days or more since you filed electronically
- It has been more than six weeks since you mailed your paper return
- The "Where's My Refund?" tool directs you to call them
Also, the IRS wants everyone who does call in with questions to know that they have to be prepared to verify their identity.
Information Needed When Calling the IRS
The IRS takes protecting taxpayers' identities very seriously. Their call center representatives ask all who call to validate their identity with specific information. If you are calling about a personal tax account, you will need the following information:
- Social Security numbers and birth dates for those listed on the return
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for those without a SSN
- Filing status
- Prior-year tax return information
- A copy of the tax return in question
- Any letters or notices received from the IRS
The IRS follows this protocol to make certain they only discuss personal information with the correct taxpayer. Having all of this information ready will help you get what you need done on the first call.
Using Your Tax Refund
The deadline to submit your tax return is Tuesday, April 18th. And you may have big plans for the money for when you receive your refund.
If you are dealing with bad credit and need a car, Auto Credit Express knows exactly what you can do with your refund. You can use part of it as a down payment on a car loan. An auto loan is a great credit builder that can help you improve your credit score if you make all of your payments on time.
And you don’t have to worry about your credit keeping you out in the cold if you work with Auto Credit Express. We can connect you with a local dealership that is trained in special finance.
You can get the process started simply by filling out our free and easy auto loan request online.
