When can you anticipate receiving your tax refund in 2024?

Tax season began on Jan. 29, 2024, with the IRS accepting and processing 2023 tax returns. As of the week ending Feb. 16, 2024, the agency had received 34.7 million returns and issued 20.9 million refunds. The average refund for tax year 2024 is $3,140.

Your tax refund: what you need to know, including when to expect it, what might delay it, and more.

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When are taxes due in 2024?

Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 17, 2024, to file their federal tax returns due to the observances of Patriot's Day (April 15) and Emancipation Day (April 16).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency website provides a list of states that have been given extensions to file their federal returns due to severe weather.

How to file your taxes

To avoid delays or mistakes with your refund, ensure that your banking and personal information is accurate and up-to-date, and allow ample time to gather necessary documents before the deadline, as advised by the IRS.

Filing taxes can be nerve-wracking, but TurboTax makes it easy. The basic free edition, which accepts Form 1040 and limited tax credits, provides guided preparation and lets you import your W-2 and previous returns. According to TurboTax, 37% of filers are eligible to use TurboTax Basic for free. If you're itemizing deductions, TurboTax Deluxe Online, a paid version, allows you to report investment, business and rental income and checks to see if you qualify for any of hundreds of deductions and credits.

H&R Block offers a free edition for simple returns and a deluxe version with expert assistance, itemization, and self-employment tax reporting. Additionally, the company provides a no-interest Refund Advance Loan of up to $3,500 the same day you file.

If your adjusted gross income in 2023 is less than $79,000, you may be eligible to file for free through Free File, a collaboration between the IRS and leading tax software providers.

The IRS has introduced its Direct File pilot program, which allows taxpayers to submit their federal tax returns online for free. However, the program is currently limited to 12 states and only accepts certain types of income and credits.

When you can expect your 2023 tax refund

If you filed an electronic return and opted for direct deposit, you should receive your refund within 21 days, provided there are no issues with your return. If you sent your return by mail or filed an amended return, it will take at least four weeks for your refund to be processed.

To check your refund status, visit the IRS website and use the Where's My Refund? tool. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount listed on your return.

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