Chart Shows When To Expect Income Tax Refunds in 2016

[Elrod]

If you're one of the millions of Americans who are asking, "When can I expect my income tax refund?" we have the answer. It depends on a couple of things, but the good news is that there are several tools to help find out.

First of all, taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for an estimated date. Taxpayers who've already filed can also go to the Internal Revenue Service's website, which has a tool designed specifically for that called, "Where's My Refund?"

IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between…					Estimated Direct Deposit Sent	Estimated Paper Check Mailed
Before				Jan 31 2016	2/5/2016	2/7/2016
January 29		and		Feb 05 2016	2/12/2016	2/14/2016
Feb 07		and		Feb 15 2016	2/19/2016	2/21/2016
Feb 16		and		Feb 22 2016	2/26/2016	2/28/2016
Feb 23		and		Mar 01 2016	3/5/2016	3/7/2016
Mar 02		and		Mar 08 2016	3/12/2016	3/14/2016
Mar 09		and		Mar 15 2016	3/19/2016	3/21/2016
Mar 16		and		Mar 22 2016	3/26/2016	3/28/2016
Mar 23		and		Mar 29 2016	4/2/2016	4/4/2016
Mar 30		and		April 03 2016	4/9/2016	4/11/2016
April 04		and		April 08 2016	4/16/2016	4/18/2016
April 10		and		April 15 2016	4/23/2016	4/25/2016
April 18		and		April 26 2016	4/30/2016	5/2/2016
April 27		and		May 03 2016	5/7/2016	5/9/2016
May 04		and		May 10 2016	5/14/2016	5/16/2016
May 11		and		May 17 2016	5/21/2016	5/23/2016
May 18		and		May 24 2016	5/28/2016	5/30/2016
May 25		and		May 31 2016	6/4/2016	6/6/2016
June 01		and		June 07 2016	6/11/2016	6/13/2016
June 08		and		June 14 2016	6/18/2016	6/20/2016
June 15		and		June 21 2016	6/25/2016	6/27/2016
June 22		and		June 28 2016	7/2/2016	7/4/2016
June 29		and		July 05 2016	7/9/2016	7/11/2016
July 06		and		July 12 2016	7/16/2016	7/18/2016
July 13		and		July 19 2016	7/23/2016	7/25/2016
July 20		and		July 26 2016	7/30/2016	8/1/2016
July 27		and		Aug 02 2016	8/6/2016	8/8/2016
Aug 03		and		Aug 09 2016	8/13/2016	8/15/2016
Aug 10		and		Aug 16 2016	8/20/2016	8/22/2016
Aug 17		and		Aug 23 2016	8/27/2016	8/29/2016
Aug 24		and		Aug 30 2016	9/3/2016	9/5/2016
Aug 31		and		Sept 06 2016	9/10/2016	9/12/2016
Sept 07		and		Sept 13 2016	9/17/2016	9/19/2016
Sept 14		and		Sept 20 2016	9/24/2016	9/26/2016
Sept 21		and		Sept 27 2016	10/1/2016	10/3/2016
Sept 28		and		Oct 04 2016	10/8/2016	10/10/2016
Oct 05		and		Oct 11 2016	10/15/2016	10/17/2016
Oct 12		and		Oct 18 2016	10/22/2016	10/24/2016
Oct 19		and		Oct 25 2016	10/29/2016	10/31/2016
Oct 26		and		Nov 01 2016	11/5/2016	11/7/2016
Nov 02		and		Nov 08 2016	11/12/2016	11/14/2016
Nov 09		and		Nov 15 2016	11/19/2016	11/21/2016
Nov 16		and		Nov 22 2016	11/26/2016	11/28/2016
Nov 23		and		Nov 29 2016	12/3/2016	12/5/2016
Nov 30		and		Dec 06 2016	12/10/2016	12/12/2016
Dec 07		and		Dec 13 2016	12/17/2016	12/19/2016
Dec 14		and		Dec 20 2016	12/24/2016	12/26/2016
Dec 21		and		Dec 27 2016	12/31/2016	1/2/2017

 

The IRS will begin processing tax returns on January 19, 2016, for taxes paid/owed in 2015. In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing.

How quickly a taxpayer receives a refund also depends on when they file and whether they have requested a direct deposit of their refund, or a paper check. This is because during some time frames there is increased traffic, with more filers getting their forms in. The busiest time, and which can experience longer waits on refunds, is usually for those who file in the last week before the April 15 deadline.

The chart above provides a general estimate of when taxpayers can expect their refund, based on date filed and type of refund payment. The chart is also available at: http://refundschedule.com/2016-irs-e-file-chart.

[Don in Upstate NY]

Of course this is just an estimate.  The website from which this is taken notes:

 

There hasn’t been an official IRS Refund Schedule since 2011 Tax Season.

[Abby Normal]

Correct link:

https://www.refundschedule.com/2016-irs-e-file-chart/

[Jack from Ohio]

5 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

Correct link:

https://www.refundschedule.com/2016-irs-e-file-chart/

You can give this information to YOUR clients if you choose.  I am too smart to do so.

[JMovichEA]

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2043en.pdf

[easytax]

5 hours ago, Jack from Ohio said:

You can give this information to YOUR clients if you choose.  I am too smart to do so.

Agree with Jack.   The charts are based on pass practices and "best guess" but is NOT from IRS, so why tell clients something not legitimized by the government?

   /s   Of course the same can be said of many things "legitimized by the government" too!     (could NOT resist )

 

[Lee B]

In addition any return with a refundable credit, a change from the prior year's checking account etc 

will be delayed by enhanced electronic screening for an undefined period of time.

Kind of like refund roulette 

[kcjenkins]

Just remember, clients tend to hear what they want to hear, so if you say "odds are you will get your refund between 2/12/2016  and   2/18/2016,"  [trying to add some 'edge' to that chart], most clients will hear "2/12/2016 '  and at least one idiot will write a check on 2/12 based on it!   And blame you, of course, if it bounces.