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where's my refund?

Probably on schedule — most e-filed refunds with direct deposit arrive within 21 days. Here's how to check yours, and what the statuses actually mean.

federal refund

irs.gov/wheres-my-refund ↗

Updates once daily, overnight. You'll need your SSN, filing status and exact refund amount.

colorado refund

tax.colorado.gov ↗

Colorado refunds often run a few weeks behind federal — normal, not a problem.

What do the three IRS statuses mean?

"Return Received" — they have it, it's in line. "Refund Approved" — the amount is final and a deposit date is set. "Refund Sent" — money is moving; allow up to 5 banking days for deposit.

It's been more than 21 days. Should I worry?

Usually not — returns claiming certain credits (EITC, additional child tax credit) are legally held until mid-February, and paper anything adds weeks. If the tool shows an actual message asking for action, or it's been 6+ weeks, bring it to us and we'll find out what's happening.

The refund came but it's smaller than expected.

The IRS adjusts for math corrections and offsets (past-due taxes, student loans, child support) and sends a letter explaining. Bring the letter — sometimes they're right, often it's fixable.

Can I get my refund faster?

E-file + direct deposit is the entire secret. Filing early helps too. Anyone promising faster than the IRS is selling you a loan against your own money — read the fine print, or just ask us.

refund questions? real answers.