How to Locate Tax-Return Money From the IRS

• 1). Grab your tax return. To obtain the status of your refund through the IRS by telephone or online, you're required to provide your Social Security number, filing status and the exact dollar amount shown on your tax return.
  
  
• 2). Go to the source. Seven days after you've e-filed or four weeks after mailing a paper return, go to the IRS website and click "Where's My Refund?" on the left side of the home page. You must be on the official IRS website to locate tax-return money. According to the Better Business Bureau, clicking the wrong link can result in stolen personal information. So make sure you're on IRS.gov. If you don't have Internet access, you can telephone the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 and follow the automated instructions or speak with an agent.
  
  
• 3). Make necessary changes. After your Social Security, filing status and dollar amount information are submitted, the status of your refund pops up. If it's undeliverable because of an address snafu, you're prompted to update your address. The IRS then will mail your check.
  
  
• 4). Track missing funds. If you still haven't received your refund within 28 days of the mailing date, launch a trace on the IRS site. This feature is available for checks that have been lost, stolen or destroyed. But your refund must be 28 days late before initiating a search. And you must do it through the IRS.
  
  
• 5). Know the difference between a "tax refund" and a "tax return." If you had taxes withheld from your paycheck but think you didn't earn enough to file a tax return or you're a person who qualifies for earned-income tax credit, you must file to get money back. Clicking "Where's My Refund?" won't help if you haven't filed a tax return. But you have only three years from the original tax due date to file old refunds.