Your 2025 IRS tax refund: What to expect and how to claim it

With federal tax filing in full swing, one bright spot that many employees look forward to is the IRS tax refund. According to the 2025 filing season statistics, the IRS has received 42,707,000 returns during the tax year 2024. Out of this, nearly 29,615,000 taxpayer refunds have been processed already. So far, the total refunds issued amounts to a staggering $102.253 billion. The IRS expects more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed ahead of the Tuesday, April 15 federal deadline. But how does the refund process work? Who is eligible for a refund? How long does it usually take for a refund to be processed? In this blog post, you'll learn the ins and outs of IRS tax refunds.

What is an IRS tax refund?

An IRS tax refund is money the IRS returns to taxpayers who have paid more tax than what they owe the government. This typically happens when too much money is withheld from a taxpayer's paycheck in the form of income tax. To avoid overpaying, you'll have to accurately declare the exact amount to be withheld on a W-4 form while starting a new job or updating your tax information.

Who is eligible for a tax refund?

You may be eligible for a tax refund for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the key aspects that determine eligibility.

• Overpaid taxes: If too many taxes have been withheld from your paychecks throughout the year, you may be eligible for a refund.

• Earned Income Tax Credit: Taxpayers who receive low to moderate income may be due for a refund in the form of an Earned Income Tax Credit. This may be applicable even if they've paid zero or very little tax.

• Tax credits for families, students, and health insurance: Taxpayers with dependent children, students with education expenses, and taxpayers who don't have access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans may get a refund too.

• Self-employed taxpayers: Self-employed taxpayers who have paid more than what is necessary are also entitled to receive a refund.

How long does it usually take to get a refund?

According to the IRS, it may take about six to eight weeks for a refund to be issued when the return is filed manually on paper. If the refund is filed electronically, it may take less than 21 days for the refund to be issued, and even faster when you opt for direct deposit. The estimated time may be extended if there are errors or incorrect information in the filing process.

How can you track the status of your refund?

One of the best ways to track the status of your refund is through the "Where's My Refund?" tool designed by the IRS. To check this, you need your Social Security Number (SSN), your filing status, and the accurate amount that needs to be refunded. You can also track the status through the IRS2Go mobile application.

What are some common reasons for tax refund delays?

Here are some of the top reasons why your income tax refund may be delayed:

• Your refund falls under the Earned Income Tax Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and American Opportunity Tax Credit.

• Your filing is incomplete. Either some key information is missing or some of your forms are incomplete.

• There are mistakes in your SSN, name, bank account details, or similar factors.

• IRS requires additional review for identity verification.

• IRS suspects fraud, inconsistencies, or other discrepancies.

   

What to do if your refund is delayed?

If your refund is delayed, the IRS usually sends a notice by mail explaining why your refund hasn't been processed yet. They may also request more accurate information if it's believed you submitted missing or incorrect information. If you haven't received notice, you can also call the IRS customer service for more information.

Wrapping up

Keeping tabs on your IRS refund is absolutely necessary to ensure it gets processed without bottlenecks. We hope this blog post gave you a clear idea about IRS tax refunds.