Several factors can affect when you may receive your return, including:
- When your 1040 is filed
- If you are claiming certain credits
- Whether your return is e-filed or sent by mail
- And whether you have existing debts to the federal government
If your return is accepted by the IRS between these dates ==== > Your Direct Deposit will be sent (or Check Mailed):
- 1/20/20- 1/24/20 —> Friday 1/31/20 *
- 1/27/20- 1/31/20 —> Friday 2/7/20
- 2/3/20- 2/7/20 —> Friday 2/14/20 **
- 2/10/20- 2/14/20 —> Friday 2/21/20 **
- 2/17/20- 2/21/20 —> Friday 2/28/20
- 2/24/20- 2/28/20 —> Friday 3/6/20
- 3/2/20- 3/6/20 —> Friday 3/20/20 ***
- 3/9/20- 3/13/20 —> Friday 3/27/20
- 3/16/20- 3/20/20 —> Friday 4/3/20
- 3/23/20- 3/27/20 —> Friday 4/10/20
- 3/29/20- 4/3/20 —> Friday 4/17/20
- 4/6/20- 4/10/20 —> Friday 4/24/20
- 4/13/20- 4/12/20 —> Friday 5/1/20
- 4/20/20- 4/24/20 —> Friday 5/8/20
- 4/27/20- 5/1/20 —> Friday 5/15/20
- 5/4/20- 5/8/20 —> Friday 5/22/20
- 5/11/20- 5/15/20 —> Friday 5/29/20
- 5/18/20- 5/22/20 —> Friday 6/5/20
- 5/25/20- 5/29/20 —> Friday 6/12/20
- 6/1/20- 6/5/20 —> Friday 6/19/20
* = IRS may delay tax filing season by one week or more due to changes in tax law.
** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until late February to verify credits.
*** = Filing during peak season can result in slightly longer waits.
** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until late February to verify credits.
*** = Filing during peak season can result in slightly longer waits.
The IRS is also continuing to delay processing by 2-3 weeks of income tax returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC), since these credits have often been the focus of misuse and abuse.
IMPORTANT: If you file electronically (using an online tax program or preparer), the IRS will notify you of the actual date they “accepted” your return. This is often 1-3 days from the time you actually hit the “file” button, and it is this date that you need to use for the above chart.
Taxpayers who mail a paper version their income tax return can expect at least a 3-4 week delay at the front-end of the process, as the return has to be digitized before it can be processed.