If you file your tax return electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to receive your refund. If you choose to receive your refund with direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer.

Some dread doing taxes and wait until the last minute. But millions of others file early to get their tax refunds. What to expect in tax season 2025.

If you're planning to use your 2025 tax refund to buy paper Series I savings bonds, you'll need a new strategy. As of 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has eliminated the option to buy paper I bonds through your tax refund.