If you plan to file a tax return on paper during the 2026 filing season and are expecting a refund, you’ll likely have to wait a while before you get your money. It will take the IRS four to six weeks to process your return, assuming there are no mistakes in your tax filing.
If you plan to file electronically, as the overwhelming majority of individual taxpayers do, the IRS says your refund would be directly deposited into your bank account within 21 days.
