To view the status of your federal tax refund, visit the Where's My Refund? section of the Internal Revenue Service's website. You will need your social security number or ITIN, your filing status and your exact refund amount.

The IRS states it issues most refunds within 21 days of submission, though not always. It may take longer to process due to errors, incomplete work, it is affected by identity theft, a claim for an earned income tax credit or an additional child tax credit, or other reasons.

Don't contact the IRS for the status of your refund unless it has been over 21 days since you filed electronically, six weeks past mailing in your refund, or the IRS' Where's My Refund? software indicated for you to contact the IRS.