You will typically receive an email from your tax software provider (e.g., TurboTax, H&R Block) confirming that the IRS has accepted (received) your return, usually within 24–48 hours of filing. However, the IRS does not send emails regarding approval; you must check the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov for the final status.
Within 24 to 48 hours, you'll usually get a notice that the IRS has accepted your return.
The most convenient way to check on a tax refund is by using the Where's My Refund? tool on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of the taxpayer's e-filed return.
Tax refund and rebate scams
HMRC will only ever email you about a tax rebate or ask for personal or payment information from an email address that ends in hmrc.gov.uk. Do not: click on the links to visit a website mentioned in a 'tax rebate' email. open any attachments.
The IRS states that 9 out of 10 refunds are processed within 21 days from the date the return is accepted.
The IRS only updates your refund status information once per week on Wednesdays. If you e-file your tax return, wait at least 72 hours from the date the IRS confirms receipt of your return before checking your refund status, and at least three weeks if you mail the return instead.
Some scammers set up phony Web sites. Generally, the IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers.
The real IRS will never contact you by email, text message or social media to get your personal or financial information. If you receive one of these suspicious messages, don't click on any links. Instead, check the status of a pending refund on the official IRS website.
Each year, the IRS adjusts more than 60 tax provisions to keep income tax brackets, deductions and other inputs in line with the cost of living. For the 2025 tax year (filing returns in 2026) these adjustments, including federal income tax brackets, increased on average by about 2.8%.
Depending on how you file, the IRS will typically notify you of a rejected return by email or regular mail.
You will receive an update in your online tax account when this happens. You will only receive a letter from HMRC by post if you have paid too much or too little tax through Self Assessment. The notice will explain how to get your refund or pay any additional tax you owe.
No. Acceptance is a really good sign, but it's not the final verdict. The IRS hasn't fully reviewed the actual content of your return at that point. They haven't checked if your income lines up with what your employer reported or if all your credits and deductions make perfect sense.
Return Received – We received your return and are processing it. Refund Approved – We approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown. Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail.
Checking online at the IRS website: Visit Where's My Refund? page on the IRS website. Then, click on the “Check Your Refund” button. You can check your refund status 24 hours after you e-file, and 4 weeks after you file a paper return.
Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It's available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.
The IRS only sends text messages with the taxpayer's permission and only collects the taxpayer's cell phone number or email address if they subscribe to receive messages from the agency.
Scammers frequently impersonate the IRS and try to get victims to send them money or share personal information. The IRS won't email, text you, or contact you via social media. It will generally mail you a notice if there is a problem with your return.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
To avoid becoming a victim of such “phishing” and Internet fraud, you should know that the IRS never sends unsolicited emails to taxpayers. Nor would the IRS ever request sensitive financial and personal information, including a taxpayer's PIN or password, via an email.
The real ATO won't send you an email or SMS with a link to sign in to our online services. While we may use email or SMS to ask you to contact us, we will never send an unsolicited message asking you to return personal identifying information through these channels.
The IRS "10k rule" primarily refers to the requirement for businesses and financial institutions to report cash transactions over $10,000 by filing Form 8300 (for businesses) or a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) (for banks), under the Bank Secrecy Act. This rule helps combat money laundering, tax evasion, and terrorist financing, requiring reporting for single transactions or related transactions totaling over $10,000 in cash within a year, with penalties for non-compliance.
To avoid the 22% tax bracket (or any higher bracket), focus on reducing your taxable income through strategies like maxing out 401(k)s and HSAs, deferring bonuses, tax-loss harvesting, smart charitable giving, and strategic asset location, understanding that higher rates only apply to income within that bracket, not your entire income.