2022 tax filing season begins Jan 24; IRS outlines refund timing and what to expect in advance of April 18 tax deadline Internal Revenue Service

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2022 tax filing season begins Jan 24; IRS outlines refund timing and what to expect in advance of April 18 tax deadline Internal Revenue Service

what is a tax refund

A tax return is a form or forms filed with a tax authority that reports income, expenses, and other pertinent tax information. Tax returns allow taxpayers to calculate their tax liability, schedule tax payments, or request refunds for the overpayment of taxes. In most countries, tax returns must be filed what is a tax refund annually for an individual or business with reportable income, including wages, interest, dividends, capital gains, or other profits. People who don’t normally file also could receive other credits. Both letters include important information that can help people file an accurate 2021 tax return.

  • Tennessee used to tax investment income as well but the tax was repealed on Jan. 1, 2021.
  • As a general rule, taxpayers who choose the standard deduction on their federal income tax returns do not owe federal income tax on state tax refunds.
  • Instead, taxpayers can look at their Form 1040 to see how much total income tax was paid and compare that amount to how much they earned in the year to determine their effective income tax rate.
  • If you’re making a small payment, say $60, it’s possible much or even all of it would go toward interest.
  • More than 160 million individual tax returns for the 2021 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the traditional April tax deadline.

Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Individuals can use a bank account, prepaid debit card or mobile app to use direct deposit and will need to provide routing and account numbers. Learn how to open an account at an FDIC-Insured bank or through the National Credit Union Locator Tool.

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To use the tool, taxpayers will need their Social Security number or ITIN, filing status and expected refund amount from their original tax return for the year they’re checking. The government will reimburse you the difference between what you paid (in your tax return) and what you https://www.bookstime.com/articles/minimum-wage-and-overtime-pay owed as a lump sum payment. Also, any deductions you claim on your taxes can add to the amount you can expect to receive. The two terms sound similar and are sometimes conflated — someone might mistakenly mention that their “tax return” has been deposited in their bank account.

Taxpayers who opt for a tax refund via direct deposit can file Form 8888, “Allocation of Refund,” to instruct the IRS to send your refund to a checking, savings, and retirement account. In most cases, you can split your refund and send the money to up to three different accounts. After you click on the Where’s My Refund link, enter your refund amount, your filing status and either your Social Security number or your individual taxpayer identification number.

Amended Tax Returns

If you receive your tax refund by direct deposit, you may see IRS TREAS 310 listed in the transaction. The 310 code simply identifies the transaction as a refund from a filed tax return in the form of electronic payment. You may also see TAX REF in the description field for a refund. Tax refunds usually are issued either as checks and sent by U.S. mail or as direct deposits to the taxpayer’s bank account.

what is a tax refund

For more information, check our Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions. Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications. Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. DonateAs a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we depend on the generosity of individuals like you. Although the Where’s My Refund tool typically shows a status of Received, Approved or Sent, there are a variety of other messages some users may see. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

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Although rare, some businesses have liberal return policies that allow customers to return purchased goods at any time for a full refund, with or without a receipt. A large tax refund can feel good, and some taxpayers even treat them as a savings vehicle, but taxpayers would be better off not overpaying their taxes in the first place. Some people might have to use Worksheet 2, “Recoveries of Itemized Deductions,” found in Publication 525 provided by the IRS.

Refunds for tax returns filed electronically are generally sent out less than 21 days after the IRS receives your information, though they can take up to 12 weeks to show up. Refunds for tax returns filed on paper often arrive between six and eight weeks. But in reality, they often mean that you made a mistake by paying more income tax than was necessary. Federal or state governments will refund the excess money that you paid out to them. You can avoid overpaying by filling out employee tax forms correctly and estimating or updating deductions with greater accuracy.

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