Overview
- Filing season opened Jan. 26, and the IRS expects about 164 million returns by the April 15 deadline.
- Electronically filed returns with correct direct‑deposit details are generally processed in about 21 days, while paper or corrected returns can take four weeks or longer.
- Federal law delays issuing refunds that include the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit until mid‑February, with most direct deposits expected by March 2.
- The Treasury is phasing out routine paper refund checks and the IRS urges direct deposit as the fastest and safest payment method, though paper checks will still be sent when no alternative is available.
- The Taxpayer Advocate Service warns refunds can be temporarily frozen if direct‑deposit information is missing or invalid, triggering a CP53E notice requiring an online update to release funds.