How long can I expect my full federal refund to arrive?

[Starbalance42]

I already have received my state refunds and what I assume is part of my federal refund as I got a payment from "IRS Tax Ref" in my bank account but it's not even close to my full refund. Is it normal to get it in chunks or am I being screwed over? 

[mesquitebean]

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@ jurassicking42 wrote:

I already have received my state refunds and what I assume is part of my federal refund as I got a payment from "IRS Tax Ref" in my bank account but it's not even close to my full refund. Is it normal to get it in chunks or am I being screwed over? 

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No, it doesn't normally come from the IRS in more than one deposit.   The IRS may have reduced your refund amount for some reason.  They should send you a letter in about 3 weeks explaining why, and telling you what recourse you have if you disagree.

How much was your refund reduced?   Often, it's due to a 3rd stimulus payment or a child tax credit that was claimed on your return that had already been paid to you in advance.   This is happening to a lot of folks where the IRS believes the IRS had already paid one or both of those to a filer.

For example, if you indicated that you did not receive the third stimulus payment last year and were entitled to it now, there would be an amount on your Form 1040, Line 30.    If the IRS disagreed, they would subtract that from the refund.   If you did not receive the third stimulus payment last year (check your bank records), and indicated so on your return, but the IRS disagreed and believes they already paid it to you, you can submit a trace.

Is there any clue at the IRS "Where's My Refund" site?  Any message there?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

[Critter-3]

First check the IRS ... did they send the entire refund ?  https://www.irs.gov/refunds

[Starbalance42]

I was supposed to get 1,774 from federal and only got 374 with nothing indicating I would have anything taken out. I have no children so there's no way a child tax credit and i did not get a third stimulus check. 

[VolvoGirl]

The difference is 1400.   $1,400 is the amount of the 3rd Stimulus payment. Did you already get the Stimulus payment they sent out last year starting March 2021? Do you have 1,400 on 1040 line 30? You might have tried to claim it again. Line 30 is only if you didn't get the full amount or qualify for more.

Did you get IRS letter 6475 saying what they sent you? If you didn't get the IRS letter 6475 saying what they sent you then check your bank statements and check your IRS account to see when and what they sent you.
https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

If you didn't get the 3rd Stimulus check but the IRS shows they sent it to you then request a trace for a missing third Stimulus payment
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-economic-impact-payment-topic-j-p...

[Starbalance42]

My bank statements won't go that far back but I never received a third stimulus. I received the first stimulus of 1,200 and the second of 600. I didn't even know there was a third until I did my taxes

[VolvoGirl]

Well the IRS has records that show they sent it to you.  It might have been a check or debit card which would be easy to miss and think it was junk mail.   You need to have the IRS put a trace on it.