The IRS tax extension deadline passed three days ago on 15 October 2025. Taxpayers who have filed an extension for the 2024 tax year must have filed the tax return and are now waiting for the tax refund. Here you can find the IRS extension refund expected date, refund status, and others.
Taxpayers who have filed the extension tax return will receive the tax refund following the same process as the tax season. The electronic refund will be processed faster than the physical checks within 21 days of the tax filing.
The IRS estimated 20 million taxpayers filing the extension tax returns this year. The refund amount depends on your tax liabilities and the credits you have claimed. Many places still have time to file the IRS tax returns under the tax relief for disaster situations.
What will be the IRS Extension Refund Date in 2025?
Taxpayers decide the payment method for receiving the tax refund, and their tax refund date depends on the payment method, along with other factors. If everything is found on your tax return and it is approved, you can expect your extension refund based on the regular tax season guidelines:
- Electronic Payment: If you filed the extension tax return electronically and selected direct deposit, you can expect your payment within 21 days of filing. So, suppose you filed in near the deadline, you can expect the refund by the first week of November 2025.
- E-file and paper check: If you have filed the extension return electronically but selected a paper check, you will receive the check in 4 weeks.
- Paper file and direct deposit: If you have filed the tax return offline and selected direct deposit for refund, your extension refund will be processed in 4 to 8 weeks.
- Mail and Paper check: If you have filed the extension return through paper return and gone for a paper check, it may take two to three months to process your refund.
| Filing Method & Refund Method | Refund Date |
| E-file and Direct deposit | 21 days |
| E-file and paper check | 4 weeks |
| Mail and direct deposit | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Mail and paper check | 9 weeks |
How to track the IRS extension refund?
If you have filed the tax extension for the 2024 tax year, you can track the refund status on the IRS Where’s My Refund tool efficiently and see at what stage your return is. The tool allows taxpayers to check their e-file return status within 24 hours of filing, whereas for a paper return, it can take 4 weeks.
If you wish to check your tax refund status, you can use this tool on the IRS2Go app or the official website with your Social Security Number, filing status, refund amount, and tax year in the following steps:
- Visit the IRS official website at https://www.irs.gov/ and click the “Get Refund status.”
- Next, you should click the “Check Your Refund” and enter your SSN and refund amount, select the tax year, and filing status.
- Afterwards, click Submit, and your IRS extension tax refund status will appear on your screen.
The tool tells the status in three stages – Return received, Refund approved, and refund sent, so when you see the refund sent status, you can expect the direct deposit payment in your bank account in 5 days or weeks through mail.
What can delay your IRS extension refund?
The IRS tax refund can be delayed due to any of the following reasons that every taxpayer should know:
- Bank details are invalid or not active
- Wrong Mailing address
- Incomplete or missing information in the tax return.
- Claimed tax credit, like EITC that can delay your refund processing due to the federal provisions
- IRS needs more documents to review your tax returns, or flagged your return as fraud
Will the IRS still process a paper check refund?
The Trump Administration has directed the government agencies to go paperless and avoid paper checks, as it has a lot of spending and a high risk of damage or theft. The paper check tax refund is phased out from 30 September 2025 under Executive Order 14247.
The agency will publish the guidelines for the 2026 filing season; however, people wondering about the 2024 extension refund can expect their payment through a paper check if they have selected or the agency can ask you to choose the electronic payment method.
So, if you are worrying about the paper check refund, you can stay worry-free as the IRS will inform you about the appropriate action, and you will not miss your refunds.
The IRS tax extension for the 2024 tax year has officially ended. If you have filed the return, you can expect your refund in the coming weeks, depending on the payment method.
Disclaimer: IRS extension refund date information is for reference only. Actual refund timelines are determined by the IRS.
