Whats the earliest i can get my tax refund

While the IRS states that most refunds are issued within 21 days after filing, the DATEucator provides you with your refund anticipation date based on your direct deposit selection. StartIT below and get an estimate based on your answers to a few simple questions. This calculator, like all of the free tax calculators on eFile.com, uses IRS information to provide users with a current, accurate answer. Important: Due to IRS delays - not eFile.com delays - your refund date may be pushed back beyond the typical processing timeframe. This does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your return as these are IRS processing delays.

The Free Federal Edition or Basic Package is free on eFile.com. For more complicated returns, use the Deluxe or Premium version; start free and the eFile Tax App will up or downgrade you based on your entries.

Doing your taxes can be stressful to your mind and wallet. We at eFile.com understand this and we will do our best to get you your tax refund as fast as possible, though this is dependent on the IRS processing rate once it has been accepted. You also have our promise as your guarantee that you will receive the highest possible tax refund you are entitled to based on the tax information you entered. Use the tool below to get an estimated date on when you can expect your refund.

Tax Tip: e-filing your taxes on eFile.com and using bank direct deposit for your expected refund is the fastest and safest way for you to receive your federal and state tax refunds. Don't be Penny Wise and Tax Foolish! Do IT Less Taxing at eFile.com. 

Let's get started with the DATEucator tool below:

• Enter the actual or estimated IRS tax return acceptance date - the acceptance date is the date the IRS acknowledged your tax return; it is not the date the tax return was e-filed or submitted to the IRS. eFile.com will display this date inside your account.

Sign in to your Account

• Select or click your preferred tax refund transfer method. Then, the tool will show you the earliest and latest estimated IRS refund anticipation date.

• Find out where your IRS or state processed tax refund is. 
• Estimate your taxes with the free tax calculator.
• See more free and easy-to-use tax tools that could help you pay less taxes or increase your tax refund.
• Get the status of your state tax refund.

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During and After e-Filing Your Tax Return

Select bank direct deposit transfer method to receive your federal and state tax refund. Once the IRS has accepted your tax return, your tax refund will be electronically transferred from the IRS (U.S. Treasury) to the bank account you entered during your online tax return process at eFile.com. There are no bank transfer or processing fees if your tax return was free or if you paid by credit card. Estimated tax refund dates are based on the IRS acceptance date and are not guaranteed by eFile.com or the IRS. Depending on IRS security procedures, the tax refund date could take up to 21 days after the IRS tax return acceptance date or as early as 7 days via the bank direct deposit method.

Certain tax credits may delay the issuing of your refund. For example, if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC) and/or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), it might take longer for the IRS to process your return. The IRS is required to not issue entire tax refunds with the EIC or ACTC until late February. The IRS intends to provide taxpayers with EITC or ACTC credits with an update on their refund typically after February 15, 2022 and those refunds will likely show up by the first week of March. This is for identity and security reasons to make sure you receive the refund instead of another person committing tax return fraud in your name. The entire refund is held, not just the portion associated with the EITC or ACTC.

IRS Security Procedures and Tax Refund Speed

Since the IRS added security measures for filing 2016 and later tax returns to decrease tax fraud, your refund may be delayed in 2022. The IRS requires online tax websites to add identity verification steps to ensure that the taxpayer filing their return is exactly who they say they are (i.e. Identity Projection PIN, security questions/answers, stronger passwords, etc.). As a result of these new security measures, the IRS may issue more refunds as paper checks, even if taxpayers requested direct deposit.

Additionally, due to various complications, the IRS has seen extensive delays processing 2020 Returns and issuing refunds in 2021. Taxpayers may also experience delays in receiving their 2021 Return refunds in 2022.

Tax Refund Is Lower Than Expected

If you prepared and e-filed your tax return on eFile.com (or on any online tax site) and the amount of your direct deposit refund is lower than the refund calculated on your federal tax return, then your tax refund may have been adjusted or offset by the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) via the IRS tax return processing procedure, not eFile.com. The program is run by the Financial Management Services (FMS). Under TOP, various federal and state government agencies are authorized to seize outstanding federal or state debts from federal tax refunds.

The FMS may offset part or all of your federal tax refund to pay:

• Unpaid child support
• Federal non-tax debts (including student loan repayments)
• State income tax debts
• State unemployment compensation debts.

Additionally, many taxpayers saw adjusted refunds due to incorrect reporting of the Recovery Rebate Credit or stimulus payments. This was due to user entry - not failure of the tax preparation software - and was adjusted by the IRS, often leading to longer processing delays. Enter your stimulus payment accurately to avoid this delay and adjustment.

Tax Refund Offset Information

An offset for non-tax debts occurs after the IRS verified your refund to FMS for payment, but before FMS direct deposits the refund or mails a paper check to you. Though an offset reduces the amount of your expected refund via direct deposit or check, it does not delay the time you will receive the remaining refund (if any) after the offset.

You will receive a notice from FMS via mail if your refund has been offset. The notice will list the original refund and offset amounts. It will also include the agency that received the offset payment and their contact information.

If you have non-tax debts, you can contact the agency you owe before you file your tax return. That way, you can determine if the agency submitted your debts to TOP for refund offset.

To dispute an offset, you will need to contact the agency that received the offset part of your refund, not the IRS or FMS. The notice will include instructions on how to contact the appropriate agency or agencies. If you have further questions about your offset notice, you can call the Treasury Offset Program Call Center at 1-800-304-3107.

We know preparing your taxes can be stressful to the mind and wallet. Thus, we offer the following promotions, promo codes, and eFile discounts.

1) Based on data collected as of December, 2021. Subject to change without notice. H&R Block® At Home is a registered trademark of HRB Innovations, Inc. TurboTax® is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.

TurboTax® is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.
H&R Block® is a registered trademark of HRB Innovations, Inc.