When the IRS Sends Checks and How to Track Yours

The IRS sends checks for tax refunds, advance Child Tax Credit payments, and economic impact payments — but only when you meet the conditions for each program

The IRS does send checks, but which checks you might receive depends on your tax situation and whether you meet the requirements for a specific payment program. Tax refunds go out year-round after you file. The Child Tax Credit advance payments ran from July through December in 2021 and 2022, and those programs have ended. Economic impact payments (stimulus checks) were sent in 2020, 2021, and early 2022 and are not currently being issued.

If you are waiting for a check, the first step is to know which program you are expecting money from. The IRS website has a tool called "Where's My Refund?" that tracks tax refunds specifically. For payments that were sent in the past, you can check your account transcript or contact the IRS directly to confirm whether a check was issued to you.

Key Takeaways

• Tax refunds are sent throughout the year after you file your return, usually within 21 days if you file electronically and claim direct deposit.
• The Child Tax Credit advance payment program ended in December 2022 and is not currently running.
• Economic impact payments (stimulus checks) were issued in 2020, 2021, and early 2022 and are no longer being sent.
• You can track a current tax refund using the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov, which updates every 24 hours.
• If you believe you should have received a payment but did not, you can request a payment trace or check your IRS account transcript.

How to track a tax refund check

The IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool is the official way to track a tax refund. You enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, and tells you whether the IRS has received your return, is processing it, or has approved it for payment.

If the tool shows your refund has been approved, it will give you a date when the check will be mailed or the funds will arrive in your bank account. The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of receiving an electronically filed return. Paper returns take longer — usually six to eight weeks.

You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask about your refund status. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount ready. Wait times are often long, especially during tax season (January through April).

What to do if your check never arrived

If the IRS says your refund was issued but you never received the check, you can request a payment trace. This is a formal investigation where the IRS tracks whether the check was mailed to the correct address, whether it was cashed, or whether it was lost in the mail.

To request a payment trace, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. You will need your Social Security number, the date the refund was supposed to arrive, and the refund amount. The IRS will file the trace and send you a letter with the results, usually within four to six weeks. If the check was lost in the mail, the IRS will issue a replacement.

If the check was cashed but you did not cash it, that is a sign of fraud or identity theft. Contact the IRS immediately and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

Child Tax Credit advance payments (ended December 2022)

The IRS sent advance Child Tax Credit payments from July through December 2021 and again from July through December 2022. These payments have ended. If you received them, the amount was subtracted from your tax credit when you filed your 2021 or 2022 return.

If you did not receive a payment you thought you were may have access to to, you can check your IRS account transcript to see whether the IRS issued a check or direct deposit to you. You can view your transcript for free on IRS.gov under "Get Transcript" or by calling 1-800-908-9946.

Economic impact payments (stimulus checks) — no longer issued

The IRS sent three rounds of economic impact payments: in 2020 ($1,200 per adult), in 2021 ($1,400 per person), and in early 2022 ($1,400 per person for some filers). These payments are not currently being issued. If you did not receive one of these payments and believe you were may have access to to it, you may be able to claim it on your tax return.

To claim a missing economic impact payment, you file Form 1040 or 1040-SR and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. You can only claim payments you did not receive. If you received a payment, you cannot claim it again. The deadline to claim these credits has passed for 2020 and 2021 payments, but you may still be able to claim 2022 payments depending on when you file.

How to check if the IRS sent you a payment in the past

If you want to know whether the IRS issued a check to you for any reason — a refund, a stimulus payment, or a Child Tax Credit advance — you can view your IRS account transcript. This document shows all payments the IRS has issued to you, including the date and method (check or direct deposit).

You can view your transcript for free on IRS.gov by logging into your account or by calling 1-800-908-9946. You can also request a transcript by mail using Form 4506-C, though this takes longer. The transcript will show the date the payment was issued and the address it was mailed to, if applicable.

What happens if you receive a check you did not expect

If you receive a check from the IRS that you did not expect, do not cash it immediately. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm the payment is legitimate. The IRS can tell you which program the payment is from and why you received it.

If the check is for a program you do not think you may have access to for, the IRS can explain the reason. You may have been sent a payment in error, in which case the IRS will tell you whether to return it or whether it will be recovered from a future refund. Do not ignore an unexpected payment — the IRS will eventually pursue it if it was sent by mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a tax refund by check?

The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of receiving an electronically filed return. Paper returns take six to eight weeks. The "Where's My Refund?" tool will show you the exact date your check will be mailed or your funds will arrive in your bank account.

Can I change my refund from a check to direct deposit?

No. Once the IRS has processed your return and issued your refund, you cannot change the payment method. If you want future refunds by direct deposit, you must include your bank account information on your next tax return.

What if the IRS says my refund was issued but I never got it?

Request a payment trace by calling 1-800-829-1040. The IRS will investigate whether the check was mailed, lost in the mail, or cashed. If it was lost, the IRS will issue a replacement check. The investigation usually takes four to six weeks.

Can I claim a stimulus check I never received?

You may be able to claim it as a Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return, but the deadline has passed for 2020 and 2021 payments. Check your IRS account transcript first to confirm you did not receive it — some people received payments without knowing.

How do I know if the IRS sent me a payment by mistake?

Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with the check amount and date. The IRS can tell you which program the payment is from and whether it was sent in error. If it was a mistake, the IRS will tell you whether to return it or whether it will be recovered from a future refund.