How to Check Your Refund Status or Get Tax Records on irs.gov

Updated

You can do both from the irs.gov home page: use Refund status to see where your federal refund stands, and Tax records to view return transcripts and other records from the current and prior years. Viewing records online requires signing in to an IRS account; if you prefer not to sign in, you can request a transcript by mail. Before either task, have your identification and the tax information described below ready.

Check your refund status

The Refund status entry is listed on the home page alongside Tax records, Payments, and Notifications.

  1. Open irs.gov and select Refund status.
  2. Enter the identifying information the tool asks for (typically your SSN or ITIN, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return).
  3. Submit and read the result.

Expected result: a status message about your federal refund. Keep the refund amount from your filed return handy — it is the detail most often mistyped, and a mismatch is a common reason the lookup fails.

Get your tax records and transcripts

The Tax records topic covers return transcripts and other records for the current and prior years. There are two paths:

Path What you do When it fits
Online Sign in or create an IRS account, then view records and transcripts You want immediate access and can complete account sign-in
By mail Request a transcript by mail You prefer not to create an account or sign in

The site also links to background on what transcripts contain ("About transcripts"), which is worth a quick read before you order one so you request the right document.

What an IRS account adds

An Individual, Business, or Tax Pro Account is the hub for personal tax information in one place. Per the site, an account lets you:

  • Access your tax information and records
  • Check refund status
  • Make payments and view your balance
  • Manage notifications
  • Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) — sign in or create an account to get one, or use the application or in-person options

The official IRS app offers the same core functions — tax records, refund status, payments, balance, and digital notices — if you prefer mobile.

Before you start: what to have ready

  • Your SSN or ITIN (or EIN for business matters)
  • Filing status and the exact refund amount from your return, for refund status
  • Enough information to sign in or create an account, if going the online route
  • A mailing address on file, if requesting a transcript by mail

Common sticking points

  • Refund amount mismatch: the lookup expects the exact figure from your return, not an estimate.
  • No online access: records are viewable after sign-in; the mail request is the documented alternative.
  • IP PIN questions: the six-digit IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS and helps verify your identity on electronic or paper returns; retrieve or reissue it through your account or the other listed options.
  • Suspected fraud: if something looks wrong, the site provides a route to report tax scams, fraud, or identity theft.

For anything beyond these self-service tools, the site lists phone and in-person contact options, with phone support available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.