How long do I have to file my taxes if I am getting a refund?
Sarah Duran
Published Mar 24, 2026
three years
In most cases, an original return claiming a refund must be filed within three years of its due date for the IRS to issue a refund. Generally, after the three-year window closes, the IRS can neither send a refund for the specific tax year.
How do I know if I finished my taxes?
Find out if Your Tax Return Was Submitted
- Using the IRS Where’s My Refund tool.
- Viewing your IRS account information.
- Calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (Wait times to speak to a representative may be long.)
- Looking for emails or status updates from your e-filing website or software.
There is usually no penalty for failure to file, if you are due a refund. But, if you wait too long to file a return or otherwise claim a refund, you risk losing your refund altogether. In most cases, an original return claiming a refund must be filed within three years of its due date for the IRS to issue a refund.
When do you get your tax refund for 2019?
Your 2019 tax refund is for overpayment of taxes in 2019 The IRS began accepting 2019 tax returns on January 27, 2020. The first refunds in the nation were processed and issues within three weeks (although most were received within 10-14 days) of acceptance.
Is the IRS still processing tax returns for 2019?
An IRS spokesperson tells NBC Connecticut that at last update, they have about 1 million 2019 returns they still need to process. That number was provided by IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig before the House Ways and Means Committee hearing Tuesday, February 23.
Is there a backlog of tax returns for 2019?
If you’re still waiting on your 2019 tax refund, you’re not alone. By the end of 2020, the agency still had a backlog of over 8 million individual returns and other transactions to process, according to a new report from the Treasury Department.
When do you get your tax refund if you did not file?
You may not have filed a tax return because your wages were below the filing requirement. But you can still file a return within three years of the filing deadline to get your refund. For information about your state tax refund check, contact your state revenue department.