There are three status updates which the taxpayer might see: “received return,” “refund approved,” or “refund sent.” If the refund has been sent, it could be up to 5 days before the money shows up in your bank account or a few weeks before your check has been received.

If you suspect your refund is missing or stolen, you can ask the IRS to issue a refund trace. This can be done by accessing Where’s My Refund, calling the IRS automated system, or customer service numbers mentioned above. If your check wasn't cashed, you should receive a replacement once the original check is canceled.

The IRS began accepting tax returns on January 27, and expects to receive over 140 million individual tax returns by the April 15 federal deadline.