Avoid These Common Tax Refund Delays

WASHINGTON – IRS spokesman Eric Smith says taxpayers who want faster refunds are encouraged to file their taxes electronically.

The IRS reports that e-filing leads to faster processing and fewer mistakes. More than 90% of taxpayers now file online, and most refunds are sent by direct deposit.

Paper filing and paper checks can cause delays due to common errors, like math mistakes, missing forms or wrong postage, Smith said. These problems can be avoided by e-filing.

For early filers, one delay is the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit. These credits couldn't be processed until after Feb. 15, which caused delays for some refunds. Another cause of delays is incorrect Social Security numbers.

If a number is wrong, the return won't be processed until the error is fixed.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers to check their W-2s, 1099s and other tax documents carefully before filing. If something seems wrong, contact the employer or bank for a corrected form.

The IRS also warns that tax-related identity theft can delay refunds. To help protect against fraud, the IRS recommends getting an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN), which acts like extra security for your tax return.

Over 10 million people already have one, but the IRS encourages more to sign up.

According to the 2025 filing season statistics, there has been an increase in both the number of refunds and the average refund amount compared to last year.

Once a return is filed, taxpayers can track their refund using the IRS's "Where's My Refund?" tool online or by calling 800-829-1954. The IRS aims to issue about 90% of refunds within 21 days.

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