The Secret to Getting Your Tax Refund ASAP

Updated for tax year 2023.

There are several ways to get your income tax refund as quickly as possible. Follow these tips from TaxAct to get your tax refund faster than ever.

Everyone looks forward to getting their tax refund. You can use it to pay off debt, put it into your savings, take a vacation, or buy something you’ve wanted for a long time.

For many of us, our refund is a nice chunk of change. But if you need it quickly and you’re worried about how long it will take to get your tax refund, thankfully, there are some things you can do to ensure you get it as soon as possible.

Here are ways to get your tax refund faster in 2024.

File your taxes sooner

The sooner you file your taxes, the sooner your refund will arrive. Perhaps you’re hesitant to file because you didn’t like doing your taxes in the past. With TaxAct, you can easily file your taxes with the help of an expert or on your own. You won’t have to go into any physical location or pay a CPA hundreds of dollars to file. You can check out our different methods to help you file your taxes and then get started today. Our ProTips provide information on deductions and credits you can take and deadlines and extensions you need to be aware of when filing. Remember that in 2024, taxes are due on Monday, April 15.

File electronically

If you qualify, you can file electronically through TaxAct, any other tax software, CPA, or the IRS. This is going to be much quicker than mailing in a paper return. According to the IRS, once you mail your refund and they receive it, it can take up to six to eight weeks to process your refund. You’ll also have to factor in how long it’ll take to reach the IRS; that could add a few more days or weeks.

Use direct deposit

According to the IRS, eight out of 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to retrieve their tax refund. The IRS sends out more than 9 out of 10 direct deposit refunds in less than 21 days, and if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 stimulus check, you’ll get it that much quicker with direct deposit. When filing your taxes, you can select direct deposit to receive your refund and then provide your routing and account number. They can be found on a paper check or by looking at your bank account online.

Check your refund status

You can typically check the status of your refund within 24 hours on the IRS’ website if you file your taxes electronically. Then, you should get your payment within 21 days.

If it’s been more than 21 days after you filed electronically and you selected direct deposit, and you still haven’t gotten your money, then again, you can log onto the IRS’ website and provide your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount.

If you’d prefer to call, you must wait at least four weeks since you filed your return and then call the IRS TeleTax System at 1-800- 829-4477. You’ll need to provide your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount.

File your taxes now

Getting your refund faster is a pretty simple process. Now, all you have to do is file. Check out TaxAct’s tax filing options for free, deluxe, premier, and self-employed returns, and then file your taxes today to get your refund that much quicker.

You can also check out TaxAct’s income tax refund guide for all the information you need about your refund.

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.

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