There are three status updates which the taxpayer might see: “received return,” “refund approved,” or “refund sent.” If the refund has been sent, it could be up to 5 days before the money shows up in your bank account or a few weeks before your check has been received.

The 2025 tax season in the United States kicked off on January 27, offering taxpayers not only the chance to file their returns but also to claim valuable refundable tax credits. Understanding the process and knowing how to track your refund can save you time and ensure you receive what you're owed.

The IRS started accepting 2024 tax returns on Jan. 27, and on Friday the agency posted the statistics so far from tax season 2025. This year's numbers show that the agency has already processed more than 23 million returns and issued more than 8 million tax refunds.