While most federal filers can expect to get their refunds with 21 days of filing some taxpayers may only get a portion of the money back, and others won’t see a penny. Here's why.

The IRS' Where's My Refund? tool will tell electronic filers what the status of their 2025 tax refund is 24 hours after they file a return, according to the agency's website. Those filing by mail can view the status of their refund four weeks after they mail in their return.