wheresmyrefund.com

February 15, 2026

What wheresmyrefund.com is right now

If you type wheresmyrefund.com into a browser in early 2026, you’re not landing on an IRS service. The domain currently redirects to a GoDaddy “for sale/parked” page, which means it’s not operating as a public refund-tracking tool at the moment.

That matters because the phrase “Where’s My Refund?” is strongly associated with the IRS’s official refund tracker, and a look-alike domain can easily confuse people—especially during filing season when everyone is anxious and clicking fast.

The official “Where’s My Refund?” sites you should use instead

The IRS refund tracker is hosted on IRS-owned domains. The main informational page is on IRS.gov, and the actual status-check form is on an IRS.gov subdomain.

Here are the legitimate entry points:

  • IRS.gov “Where’s My Refund?” information page (explains what you need and what the statuses mean).
  • IRS refund status checker form (the page where you enter your details).

USAGov also points people to the IRS for federal refund tracking and to state revenue agencies for state refunds, which is a good “sanity check” when you’re unsure where to click.

What information the IRS tool asks for, and why

To check your federal refund status, the IRS tool asks for three things:

  1. Your Social Security number or ITIN
  2. Your filing status
  3. The exact refund amount shown on your return

That’s intentionally minimal. The IRS doesn’t need your full return to show a status, and reputable services generally avoid asking for more personal data than necessary. If a site that looks like a refund tracker starts asking for extra things (full address, mother’s maiden name, full bank login, photos of IDs, etc.), that’s a red flag.

How the IRS status messages actually work

The IRS tracker typically shows progress in three plain stages:

  • Return Received (they have it and it’s processing)
  • Refund Approved (they’ve approved the amount and are preparing payment)
  • Refund Sent (it’s been issued to your bank or mailed)

A common misunderstanding is thinking “approved” means “money is in my account today.” Even after “Refund Sent,” it may take time for banks to post the deposit, or for a mailed check to arrive. The IRS explicitly notes that deposits may take a few days to appear, and mailed checks can take longer.

When you can start checking, and how often it updates

People check constantly because it feels like doing something. But the IRS has said the tracker is updated once per day, usually overnight, so refreshing it repeatedly won’t speed anything up.

Also, visibility depends on how you filed:

  • E-filed returns generally show up faster than paper returns
  • Paper returns can take much longer to appear in any system, because they require manual processing before they’re in the pipeline

If you’re trying to avoid unnecessary stress: check once a day at most, and treat “no change” as normal.

Why a domain like wheresmyrefund.com can be risky even if it looks harmless

Even when a domain is “just parked” (like wheresmyrefund.com appears to be now), it’s still a good example of a broader issue: refund tracking is a prime target for phishing.

Scammers often send texts or emails claiming there’s a refund waiting, and the link goes to a site that looks like something official. The FTC has warned specifically about messages that push you to click a link about a “tax refund,” because the goal is to steal personal info and, in some cases, hijack the refund itself.

The IRS also maintains guidance on tax scams and encourages people to be skeptical of unexpected contact that claims to be from the IRS.

So the practical advice is boring but effective: for refund status, start from IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app, not from a random link, ad, text message, or a domain that merely sounds right.

What to do if you already used a non-IRS refund “tracker” site

This depends on what you entered.

  • If you only typed in general info (for example, you clicked around but didn’t submit SSN/ITIN + refund amount): your risk is lower. Close the page and move on.
  • If you entered SSN/ITIN and refund amount on a non-IRS site: treat it as potential exposure. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze and monitor accounts. Also keep an eye out for IRS-related identity theft indicators (like notices you didn’t expect).
  • If you clicked a link from a text/email: assume the message was suspicious by default and don’t continue through it. The FTC’s guidance is basically: don’t engage, don’t click, and don’t hand over personal data.

And going forward, use the official tracker pages (IRS.gov / IRS subdomain) to confirm what’s actually happening with your refund.

Key takeaways

  • wheresmyrefund.com is not an IRS tool right now; it redirects to a GoDaddy parked/for-sale page.
  • The official IRS refund tracker lives on IRS.gov and IRS subdomains, not on third-party domains.
  • The IRS tool requires only SSN/ITIN, filing status, and exact refund amount.
  • Status updates are typically once daily, so constant checking doesn’t help.
  • Refund-related texts/emails with links are a common scam pattern—be cautious and start from official sites.

FAQ

Is wheresmyrefund.com owned or operated by the IRS?

Based on its current behavior, no—it redirects to a GoDaddy parked/for-sale page, not an IRS service.

What’s the correct website to track a federal refund?

Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” page on IRS.gov, or the IRS-hosted refund status checker.

What information do I need to check my refund status?

Your SSN or ITIN, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.

How often does “Where’s My Refund?” update?

The IRS says it’s updated once per day, usually overnight.

I got a text saying I need to “verify” my refund—should I click it?

That pattern is commonly used in scams. The FTC specifically warns about texts/emails about a “tax refund” that push you to click a link. Don’t click; go directly to IRS.gov if you want to check status.