Late Tax Refunds 11-26-25

For tax year 2024 (returns filed in 2025), refunds associated with the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) cannot be issued by the IRS before mid-February 2025 due to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. 

The IRS expects most ACTC-related refunds to be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by early March 2025 if taxpayers choose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return. 

Key Details for 2024 Tax Year Refunds

PATH Act Delay: By law, the IRS must hold the entire refund (not just the portion associated with the credits) for returns claiming the ACTC or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) until after mid-February to prevent fraud.

Target Date: The IRS anticipates most refunds for early filers claiming the ACTC/EITC to be available by March 3, 2025.

General Processing Time: For returns without these credits, the IRS typically issues most refunds in less than 21 days from the date they are e-filed with no issues.

Checking Your Status: The best way to track your personalized refund date is by using the IRS's official Where's My Refund? tool or the IRS2Go app. The tool is updated once a day, usually overnight.

Faster Refunds: You can get your refund faster by e-filing your tax return and choosing direct deposit. 

Important Considerations

Direct Deposit is Fastest: Direct deposit into a bank account is the quickest method. If you do not have a bank account, the FDIC BankFind Suite can help you find a bank to open one.

Errors Cause Delays: Filing an incomplete or inaccurate return will delay your refund.

Do Not Rely on a Specific Date: The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date when making major purchases or paying bills, as some returns may require additional review. 

Refunds for the 2024 tax year Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) were issued starting in mid-to-late February 2025. Most taxpayers who filed their returns online with no errors and chose direct deposit received their refunds by early March 2025. 

Key Details

PATH Act Delay: By federal law (the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act), the IRS cannot issue refunds that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the refundable portion of the CTC (ACTC) before mid-February. This is a fraud prevention measure.

Target Date for Early Filers: For early EITC and ACTC filers who chose direct deposit and had no issues with their return, most refunds were available by February 27, 2024 (for the 2023 tax year). For the 2024 tax year (filed in early 2025), the target date was March 3, 2025.

General Timeline: The IRS typically issues most refunds in less than 21 days. However, the PATH Act delay means the 21-day period for EITC/ACTC-related refunds starts in mid-February.

How to Check Your Status: The most reliable way to get a personalized date for your refund is to use the official IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool or the IRS2Go app. The tool is updated once a day, usually overnight. 

If You Are Still Waiting

If you claimed these credits for the 2024 tax year (and have not yet received your refund), common reasons for a delay beyond the typical window include: 

Errors or missing information on your tax return.

The IRS needing to conduct an additional review (you may receive a letter if this is the case).

Filing a paper return, which takes much longer to process than e-filing. 

The IRS advises against relying on a specific date to make major purchases or pay bills until you receive your refund, as processing times can vary.  For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more

https://www.google.com/search?q=when+will+refunds+be+issued+2024+child+tax+credit

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader