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Is your IRS refund taking forever? From filing errors to identity verification, here are five reasons for a tax refund delay, and what you can do today.
By
Kate Schubel
last updated
17 March 2026
in Features
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Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterAre you one of millions of taxpayers trying to track your IRS tax refund status? Whether you're waiting for an update from the federal tax agency or simply checking your bank account daily, you might be asking yourself: Why's my refund taking so long?
While the IRS typically processes electronic returns within 21 days, accidental errors, such as opting out of direct deposit or forgetting important documents, might trigger a manual review. According to the Taxpayer Advocate, an IRS review can turn a three-week wait into a 45- to 180-day delay.
The good news? Most of these setbacks might be preventable. To help you avoid the frustration of a stalled payout, here are five common mistakes that could accidentally delay your IRS refund status.
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Sign up*Note: This article pertains to IRS tax refund status delays, not state income refunds.
1. Wrong Social Security number (SSN) or tax information could delay your refund status
The first tip might seem obvious, but having incorrect information on your tax return could seriously delay your IRS tax refund status.
In what ways might tax information be inaccurate?
- Mismatched names or Social Security numbers.
- Incorrect adjusted gross income (AGI) or filing status.
- Unmatched income documents (misreporting income from Form W-2, 1099s, etc.).
- Math errors, such as calculation mess-ups on credits or deductions.
IRS data reveal that a staggering 9 million math errors occurred in a recent filing season, leading to 8.3 million notices regarding the recovery rebate and child tax credits. Since these errors can significantly delay your federal tax refund status, you should ensure your tax work is accurate before hitting "submit" on your income return.
2. Tax refund status is delayed if not through direct deposit
Starting with tax season 2026, the IRS has effectively eliminated paper checks. This means you'll typically need to enter bank account information when filing your federal income return or risk status delays.
- While some exceptions exist (namely for those without bank access, those with disabilities, etc.), most taxpayers are required to receive any applicable tax refund via direct deposit or other electronic method.
- If no deposit information is provided, your income tax refund could be frozen or delayed, per the IRS's new rule.
If you can't open a bank account, you can use a Direct Express Prepaid Debit Card to receive your IRS income tax refund, according to the U.S. Treasury. The prepaid card functions similarly to a traditional debit card and has no enrollment fees, minimum balance requirements, or credit checks for preapproval.
3. Income tax refund delays could happen when filing a paper return
Filing a paper return can delay your federal tax refund status more than you might realize. Not only must the IRS manually enter your data (potentially contributing to longer processing times), but this filing method also adds transit delays and increases the risk of human error.
- Paper returns often require six weeks or longer to process, according to the IRS.
- Mailing your return adds, minimally, several days to a week for the filing to reach the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically for faster tax refunds. You might use free tax filing options like IRS Free File, a no-cost electronic tax preparation, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) to help file your return electronically (if eligible).
4. Submitting duplicate returns to the IRS could delay your tax refund
Submitting a duplicate return by mistake can delay your IRS tax refund status. Taxpayers might accidentally submit a duplicate return due to:
- Fear that the original submission wasn't received.
- When a spouse or an accountant files, and you also file, not realizing it was already done.
- "Amending" a return, such as submitting another Form 1040 to "fix" an originally filed return.
If any of these sound like you, don't panic. While multiple submissions can delay tax refunds, the IRS often catches duplicate submissions and automatically rejects them. Amended returns should use Form 1040-X after the original filing is processed instead of a second original return.
If you receive a "duplicate submission" notice from the IRS and were not expecting it, that could also be a sign of identity theft. In that case, you should follow IRS identity theft procedures to determine the root cause.
5. Forgetting to sign and date your tax documents could slow your refund
Forgetting to sign your federal tax return is another surefire way to delay your refund status, as the IRS considers unsigned tax returns invalid. Not signing your return can be easy to forget for a couple of reasons:
- Filing paper forms. While most tax software programs require you to sign before you electronically file, paper filers are solely responsible for remembering.
- Missing joint signatures. For those filing jointly as a married couple, both spouses must sign the return.
Did you forget to sign your income tax return? The IRS will typically mail it back to the address on the filing and request a signature. This process can significantly delay your federal income tax refund, but it typically results in no fees or fines from the IRS (if you're owed a refund). Wait for the notification and promptly follow the steps inside.
Read More
- IRS Income Tax Refund Schedule 2026: When Will Your Refund Arrive?
- 2026 Tax Refund Delays: 5 States Where Your Money Is Stuck
- Where's My Refund? How to Track Your Tax Refund Status
Kate SchubelTax WriterKate is a CPA with experience in audit and technology. As a Tax Writer at Kiplinger, Kate believes that tax and finance news should meet people where they are today, across cultural, educational, and disciplinary backgrounds.