How long does a paper federal refund take?
The IRS says a mailed return's refund takes 6 or more weeks from the date it receives the return.
The IRS says the status of a paper return shows 4 weeks after you file it.
For example, if you mail it on March 1, 2027, its status can show in Where's My Refund? from March 29, 2027, and the refund should not come before April 12, 2027.
That refund date counts from the day you mail it. The IRS counts from the day it receives the return, a few days later, so the real date is later too.
How do I check my federal refund status?
Use Where's My Refund? on irs.gov.
The IRS describes these boxes on its help pages, so the wording on its site may differ a little:
- Social Security number or ITIN. Yours. You type it on the agency's own site
- Tax year. The year the return is for, not the year you mail it
- Filing status. The filing status on your return: Single, for an unmarried student
- Refund amount. Whole dollars, from Form 1040-NR line 35a (2025 forms)
What else should I know about Where's My Refund?
It updates once a day, usually at night.
- It shows the three most recent tax years.
- A refund of tax withheld on a Form 1042-S can take up to 6 months.
- IRS phone staff can look up a paper return only once it is more than 6 weeks since you mailed it.
- If the refund takes longer than about 45 days after the due date, or after the IRS gets your return if that is later, the IRS pays interest on it.
Can F1TaxReturn track my federal refund?
If you file your federal return with F1TaxReturn, your dashboard has a refund tracker: every box Where's My Refund? asks for, filled in from your return except your SSN, with a copy button beside each, a timeline from the day you mail it, and an email when it is time to check.
The federal return (Form 1040-NR and Form 8843) is free. F1TaxReturn prepares paper returns: you print, sign and mail them, and it never sees your refund status.