The IRS began releasing EITC refunds on February 27, 2024, but your refund date depends on when you filed and how you filed

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refund the IRS sends to working people and families with low to moderate income. In 2024, the IRS started processing EITC refunds in late February, but not everyone received their money on the same day. The IRS staggers refund releases based on when you filed your return and whether you filed on paper or electronically.

If you filed electronically and chose direct deposit to your bank account, your refund typically arrived within 21 days of the IRS accepting your return. If you filed on paper or requested a check by mail, the timeline was longer — usually four to six weeks from acceptance. The IRS also held some refunds for additional review, which delayed payment by several weeks or longer.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS released EITC refunds starting February 27, 2024, but the exact date you received yours depended on your filing method and when you submitted your return.
  • Electronic filers who chose direct deposit received refunds faster than those who filed on paper or requested checks.
  • The IRS may have delayed your refund if it flagged your return for identity verification, missing information, or other review reasons.
  • You can check your refund status using the IRS Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov, which updates once per day.
  • If your refund was delayed beyond the expected timeframe, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person.

How the IRS scheduled EITC refund releases in 2024

The IRS released EITC refunds in waves throughout the tax season rather than all at once. The first wave went out on February 27, 2024, to early filers who had already submitted their returns. Subsequent waves continued through March and into April as more returns arrived at the IRS.

The IRS prioritized returns filed electronically with direct deposit because those are fastest to process and verify. Paper returns and those requesting checks moved through the system more slowly. If you filed your 2024 return in early February, you likely received your EITC refund by mid-March. If you filed in late March or April, your refund arrived later in the season.

Why some EITC refunds were delayed beyond the standard timeline

Not every EITC refund arrived on schedule. The IRS delayed refunds for several common reasons: the return claimed a child tax credit or EITC that required verification of dependent information, the Social Security number on the return did not match IRS records, the return showed income that conflicted with W-2 forms or other documents the IRS received, or the return was flagged for identity theft screening.

The IRS also delayed refunds when taxpayers claimed the EITC but did not include required documentation, such as proof of earned income or proof that a child lived with them. These holds typically lasted two to four weeks while the IRS requested and reviewed the missing information. In some cases, the delay extended to six weeks or longer if the IRS needed to contact the taxpayer by mail.

Returns with math errors or inconsistencies also faced delays. The IRS corrected these errors before releasing the refund, which added time to processing. If you received a notice from the IRS about your return, that indicated your refund was held pending resolution of the issue described in the notice.

How to track your EITC refund status

The IRS Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov showed the status of your 2024 EITC refund in real time. To use it, you needed your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return. The tool updated once per day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in a single day showed the same status.

The tool displayed one of three messages: "Your refund is being processed," "Your refund has been approved and will be sent to your bank account on [date]," or "Your refund was mailed to you on [date]." If your refund was delayed, the tool sometimes showed "We are still processing your return" with no estimated date. This message meant the IRS was reviewing your return for one of the reasons listed above.

You could also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask about your refund status. The IRS automated system asked for your Social Security number and filing status, then provided the same information the online tool showed. If you needed to speak with a person, wait times were typically longer during peak tax season (February through April).

What to do if your EITC refund did not arrive by April 2024

If you filed electronically with direct deposit and did not receive your refund within 21 days of the IRS accepting your return, the refund was likely delayed for review. Check the Where's My Refund tool first to see if the IRS provided a new expected date or a message explaining the delay.

If the tool showed no status update after 21 days, or if you filed on paper and did not receive your check within six weeks, contact the IRS. You can call 1-800-829-1040, visit IRS.gov and use the online chat feature, or visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in your area. Bring a copy of your 2024 tax return and any notices the IRS sent you. The IRS can tell you whether your refund is still processing, whether additional information is needed, or whether there was an error in processing.

If the IRS issued your refund but you did not receive it, the money may have been sent to an old bank account or address. Ask the IRS to confirm where the refund was sent. If it went to a closed bank account, the bank returned it to the IRS, and the IRS reissued it as a check by mail — a process that took an additional two to three weeks.

EITC refunds for 2024 returns filed after April

Tax returns filed after April 15, 2024, were processed outside the main refund release schedule. The IRS continued to accept returns throughout the year, and EITC refunds for late-filed returns were released as those returns were processed and approved. A return filed in May 2024 typically received its refund within three to four weeks of filing, depending on whether the IRS needed to review it.

The IRS did not have a deadline to issue refunds for returns filed after the main tax season ended. However, the longer you waited to file, the longer you waited to receive your refund. If you had not filed your 2024 return by the end of 2024, you could still file and claim the EITC, but you would not receive the refund until after the IRS processed your return in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my EITC refund faster if I file electronically?

Yes. Electronic filers with direct deposit received refunds within 21 days of acceptance in most cases. Paper filers and those requesting checks waited four to six weeks. Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your EITC refund.

What does "Your refund is being processed" mean on the Where's My Refund tool?

It means the IRS received your return and is reviewing it before releasing your refund. This status typically lasted one to three weeks. If the status did not change after 21 days, your return was likely held for additional review, and you should contact the IRS to find out why.

Why did the IRS delay my EITC refund?

Common reasons include missing or mismatched dependent information, Social Security number discrepancies, income that did not match W-2 forms, or identity verification screening. The IRS sent a notice explaining the delay if one was required. Check any mail from the IRS or log into your IRS account online to see if a notice was issued.

What if I filed my 2024 return in May or June?

Late-filed returns were processed outside the main refund schedule. Your EITC refund was released within three to four weeks of the IRS accepting your return, assuming no additional review was needed. The later you filed, the later you received your refund.

Can I claim the EITC if I did not file a 2024 return yet?

Yes. You can file your 2024 return anytime, and you can claim the EITC if you meet the income and work requirements. However, you will not receive the refund until after the IRS processes your return. Filing in 2025 means your refund arrives in 2025.