By using the “Where’s My Refund” tool on the IRS website, Taxpayers can check on the status of their federal income tax refunds seven days after they e-filed their return. If they file a paper return, they can check four to six weeks after mailing their return.

“Where’s My Refund” is easy to use and is the fastest way to check on a refund. Even taxpayers who file Form 1040EZ-T just to claim the telephone excise tax refund can utilize “Where’s My Refund.”

Taxpayers can check their refund status online anytime from anywhere. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worldwide, only by visiting IRS.gov.

Taxpayers can securely access their personal refund information by entering their Social Security number, filing status and the exact amount of their refund. These shared secrets, known only to the taxpayer and IRS, verify the person is authorized to access the account.

For the first time this year, taxpayers who chose direct deposit can split their refunds among as many as three accounts held by up to three different U.S. financial institutions. Split refunds offer taxpayers the opportunity to manage their money by sending part of their refund to one account for immediate needs and another part to a savings or investment account. “Where’s My Refund” will include a message confirming the refund was split and the expected deposit date. It will not specify the amount of individual deposits or the accounts to which the deposits were made.