Waiting on your tax refund? Here's how you can check its status with the IRS

Three-quarters of taxpayers anticipate a refund, according to a January 2024 survey from CreditKarma. Waiting for that money can be nerve-wracking, especially since many people use their refund for necessities — including rent, credit card bills and even medical debts. 

If you've filed your 2023 tax return and want to know when you'll get your refund, the IRS has several tools available to help you track its status.

If you filed an electronic return, expect a refund and signed up for direct deposit, the IRS says you should get it within 21 days of filing, as long as there are no issues with your return.

If you sent your return by mail or filed an amended return, it will take at least four weeks for your refund to be processed.

If you can't wait that long, H&R Block offers a no-interest tax refund advance loan that can make up to $3,500 available the same day you file. H&R Block has a free tier for simple returns and a deluxe version that lets you itemize, report self-employment taxes and get help from both live experts and an AI tax assistant.

TurboTax also offers a refund advance loan, with up to $4,000 available with 0% APR and no fees. You will need to open a checking account with Credit Karma Money to receive the funds.

Jackson Hewitt will advance qualified filers up to $6,500, but you'll have to book an in-person appointment at a Jackson Hewitt office to file your taxes.

You can keep tabs on your refund on the IRS's Where's My Refund site or the IRS2Go app, which can be downloaded at the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon.

You'll need your Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number to use either service, as well as your filing status and the exact amount of the refund you are expecting.

The status of your return is available within 24 hours of e-filing. The IRS updates information daily (usually overnight), so you may need to check several times for the most current information.

According to the IRS, you should only call if it's been at least 21 days since you filed an electronic return or at least six weeks since you mailed a print return.

For questions about individual federal returns, call 800-829-1040, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (The wait time during tax season may be considerable.)

You can also make an appointment to get help at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. The agency does not accept tax-related questions by email.

If you file online and set up direct deposit, you can expect a refund within 21 days. You can check the status of your return and any refund 24 hours after e-filing by visiting the IRS website or IRS2GO app.

If you need the funds before your refund will arrive, some top tax-prep companies make no-interest refund advance loans available.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every tax guide is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax services. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.