To check your FTC refund, visit ftc.gov/refunds, find your specific case, and use the official phone number or website link provided for that program; the FTC never asks for fees or bank details for refunds and sends payments via check, PayPal, or Zelle. Always verify links and numbers on the official FTC site to avoid scams.
Whenever there's an FTC refund program, information is available at ftc.gov/refunds. Click on a case name to see more details about the refund program, including whether we sent checks, debit cards, Zelle payments, or PayPal payments.
FTC refund timelines vary by case, but generally, if approved, you might get a PayPal payment within 30 days or a check within 90 days, while the overall process can take several months to over a year depending on claim volume and data collection, with some specific cases like Fortnite expecting more in 2026 and Amazon targeting late 2026 for claims, as the FTC works through identifying recipients and distributing funds.
To use Where's My Refund?, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, their filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of their refund. The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more often.
Status of 'paid' refund, being paid other than through 'Refund Banker', can also be viewed at www.tin-nsdl.com by entering the 'PAN' and 'Assessment Year'. 'Refund paid' status is also being reflected in the 'Tax Credit Statements' in Form 26AS.
The IRS generally issues refunds within 21 days of when you electronically filed your tax return, and longer for paper returns. Find out why your refund may be delayed or may not be the amount you expected.
Identifying who is eligible for a refund
FTC court orders typically require the company to provide a list of customers, their contact information, and how much each customer paid. If the agency obtains a reliable list of eligible recipients, then the agency mails checks or sends electronic payments directly to them.
How long does it take for the FTC to respond to a FOIA request? Our goal is to respond within the timeframe outlined in the Freedom of Information Act, which is twenty working days, or approximately one month, but this may vary with the complexity of the request.
FTC sends payments to eligible people who worked for Arise
The FTC is sending 98,254 checks totaling more than $6.7 million to eligible people who worked for gig work company Arise sometime between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023. The FTC brought charges against Arise and the company settled.
If you haven't received a requested refund, it may still be processing. For additional information on a refund that is due contact Customer Service at 888-218-5050.
Progressive Leasing refunds
Progressive Leasing was accused of misleading consumers with their advertised “no interest” payment plans. Consumers were also misled into believing they would pay “same cash” prices for items, according to the FTC. Consumers who receive a refund check are asked to cash it within 90 days.
The checks are part of $1.5 billion being distributed to customers as part of a $2.5 billion settlement between the online retailer and the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement stems from allegations that Amazon tricked users into enrolling in Prime and made canceling the subscription difficult.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (American Rescue Plan), enacted in early March 2021, provided Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 for eligible individuals or $2,800 for married couples filing jointly, plus $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, including adult dependents.
The IRS allows you to amend returns from the last three years, which sometimes results in delayed or unexpected refund checks. While a few taxpayers are genuinely seeing deposits of $2,000 or $3,000, those refunds are tied to specific past errors or missed credits, not a general program available now.
Single filers: You qualify for the full $1,400 if your AGI in 2021 was $75,000 or less. The credit begins to decrease for incomes over $75,000 and is fully phased out at $80,000. Married filing jointly: You qualify for the full $2,800 (for two people) if your combined AGI in 2021 was $150,000 or less.
The IRS issues refunds only on business days. However, some banks may post deposits on Saturdays if funds are received late on a Friday.
Approved – Once the IRS is satisfied with the accuracy of your return, they approve your refund. This means your refund amount has been confirmed, and the IRS is ready to issue it. Sent – The final stage of the process is when your refund is sent to you.
There are many reasons why the IRS may be holding your refund. You have unfiled or missing tax returns for prior tax years. The check was held or returned due to a problem with the name or address. You elected to apply the refund toward your estimated tax liability for next year.
If you e-file your return, you can usually see your refund status within 24 hours with Where's My Refund? You can get your refund information for the current year and past 2 years.