2016 IRS Tax Refund Schedule: When to Expect My Tax Refund?
2016 IRS Tax Refund Dates
It’s always painful to see how much you pay in taxes, but at least there’s a silver lining: your 2016 IRS tax refund. Personally, I know all I want is a tax refund schedule to show me when to expect my tax refund. Below is a table that outlines all the possible 2016 IRS tax refund dates.
If you really want to expedite your tax refund, I suggest you file online using the IRS E-File system. There are other software programs you can use to apply for your 2016 tax refund, but filing by physical mail is really going to stretch the timeline. Going digital is the quickest way to get your cash.
When can I expect my tax refund? I would suggest you check the IRS web site for their refund tables, but they’ve stopped giving out the full tables because of changes to the auditing system. However, here’s an estimate based on their previous schedules. This chart shows when to expect income tax refunds in 2016 based on previous years.
Just check when you submitted your tax refund (left-hand column). If you opted for direct deposit, then your expected date would be in the middle column. If you chose to get your refund by paper check then it would be in the right-hand column.
Remember that if you’re filing after April 15, it would be helpful to get a tax extension request. It could save you quite bit of money in penalties.
Tax Refund Time Table
| Tax Return Accepted By IRS before 11:00 a.m. between… | Direct Deposit Sent* | Paper Check Mailed* |
| Jan 19, 2016 (first day IRS accepts returns) and Jan 29, 2016 | Feb 5, 2016 | Feb 6, 2016 |
| Jan 30 and Feb 5, 2016 | Feb 12, 2016 | Feb 13, 2016 |
| Feb 6 and Feb 12, 2016 | Feb 19, 2016 | Feb 20, 2016 |
| Feb 13 and Feb 19, 2016 | Feb 26, 2016 | Feb 27, 2016 |
| Feb 20 and Feb 26, 2016 | Mar 4, 2016 | Mar 5, 2016 |
| Feb 27 and Mar 4, 2016 | Mar 11, 2016 | Mar 12, 2016 |
| Mar 5 and Mar 11, 2016 | Mar 18, 2016 | Mar 19, 2016 |
| Mar 12 and Mar 18, 2016 | Mar 25, 2016 | Mar 26, 2016 |
| Mar 19 and Mar 25, 2016 | Apr 1, 2016 | Apr 2, 2016 |
| Mar 26 and Apr 1, 2016 | Apr 8, 2016 | Apr 9, 2016 |
| Apr 2 and Apr 8, 2016 | Apr 15, 2016 | Apr 16, 2016 |
| Apr 9 and Apr 15, 2016 | Apr 22, 2016 | Apr 23, 2016 |
| Apr 16 and Apr 22, 2016 | Apr 29, 2016 | Apr 30, 2016 |
| Apr 23 and Apr 29, 2016 | May 6, 2016 | May 7, 2016 |
| Apr 30 and May 6, 2016 | May 13, 2016 | May 14, 2016 |
| May 7 and May 13, 2016 | May 20, 2016 | May 21, 2016 |
| May 14 and May 20, 2016 | May 27, 2016 | May 28, 2016 |
| May 21 and May 27, 2016 | Jun 3, 2016 | Jun 4, 2016 |
| May 28 and Jun 3, 2016 | Jun 10, 2016 | Jun 11, 2016 |
| Jun 4 and Jun 10, 2016 | Jun 17, 2016 | Jun 18, 2016 |
| Jun 11 and Jun 17, 2016 | Jun 24, 2016 | Jun 25, 2016 |
| Jun 18 and Jun 24, 2016 | Jul 1, 2016 | Jul 2, 2016 |
| Jun 25 and Jul 1, 2016 | Jul 8, 2016 | Jul 9, 2016 |
| Jul 2 and Jul 8, 2016 | Jul 15, 2016 | Jul 16, 2016 |
| Jul 9 and Jul 15, 2016 | Jul 22, 2016 | Jul 23, 2016 |
| Jul 16 and Jul 22, 2016 | Jul 29, 2016 | Jul 30, 2016 |
| Jul 23 and Jul 29, 2016 | Aug 5, 2016 | Aug 6, 2016 |
| Jul 30 and Aug 5, 2016 | Aug 12, 2016 | Aug 13, 2016 |
| Aug 6 and Aug 12, 2016 | Aug 19, 2016 | Aug 20, 2016 |
| Aug 13 and Aug 19, 2016 | Aug 26, 2016 | Aug 27, 2016 |
| Aug 20 and Aug 26, 2016 | Sep 2, 2016 | Sep 3, 2016 |
| Aug 27 and Sep 2, 2016 | Sep 9, 2016 | Sep 10, 2016 |
| Sep 3 and Sep 9, 2016 | Sep 16, 2016 | Sep 17, 2016 |
| Sep 10 and Sep 16, 2016 | Sep 23, 2016 | Sep 24, 2016 |
| Sep 17 and Sep 23, 2016 | Sep 30, 2016 | Oct 1, 2016 |
| Sep 24 and Sep 30, 2016 | Oct 7, 2016 | Oct 8, 2016 |
| Oct 1 and Oct 7, 2016 | Oct 14, 2016 | Oct 15, 2016 |
| Oct 8 and Oct 14, 2016 | Oct 21, 2016 | Oct 22, 2016 |
