ERTC refunds have been moving slowly for a long time, and by 2025, many taxpayers are mainly trying to understand what stage their refund is in and what they can reasonably expect from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). People already know the credit is closed, so the focus now is only on updates, ongoing reviews, and the steady processing work still happening inside the IRS system.
This blog post will help you make sense of all of that in a clear and practical way. You will see where to check your ERTC refund status, what usually causes delays, and how the IRS shares information today.
What is an ERTC Refund and Why Does it Matter?
An Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) refund is the money the IRS sends back to a business after it files an amended payroll return for the ERTC. It’s basically the refund amount the IRS approves once they review the wages the employer claimed for those past quarters in 2020 and 2021.
Even though no one can file a new ERTC claim today, the refund still matters because many businesses are still waiting to hear where their old filings stand. Some people filed years ago and are still checking for updates, and others are trying to understand why their refund is taking longer than expected. So the idea of the “ERTC refund” is less about the credit itself now and more about finally getting clarity, knowing what stage the claim is in, and understanding what to expect next.
How to Check Your ERTC Refund Status With the IRS?
When you want to check the status of your ERTC refund, the process feels a little different because these refunds do not appear in the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. The ERTC flows through older payroll systems, so the IRS still handles most updates manually. That means the only way to know where your refund stands is to rely on the channels the IRS actually updates, and these have stayed the same through 2024 and 2025.
Here are the only reliable ways to check your ERTC refund status with the IRS right now:
1. Call the IRS Business Line
You can call the IRS at 800-829-4933. It usually takes time to reach an agent, but once you get through, they can look up your Form 941-X and tell you whether your refund is:
- Still pending.
- Under review.
- Adjusted.
- Or denied.
This is still the most direct way to get real information because the agent reads your status straight from the IRS system.
2. Check Your IRS Business Transcript
Your transcript won’t show the full refund status, but it does show small updates that help you understand whether the IRS has touched your claim. You may see lines like:
- “Amended return received.”
- “Adjustment made.”
- Or “Examination opened.”
These updates come straight from the IRS processing system, so whatever appears here is accurate.
3. Watch for IRS Mail Notices
The IRS sends almost every ERTC-related update by mail.
If they:
- Need supporting documents.
- Reduce your refund.
- Or deny the claim.
It will always come in a physical IRS letter. In late 2025, this is still the main way the IRS communicates for all ERTC reviews.
4. If You Filed Through a Provider, Check Their Portal, But Trust IRS Updates
Some payroll companies and ERTC preparers offer their own “tracking dashboards,” but these are only estimates. In 2024 and 2025, many promoters shared timelines that didn’t match the actual IRS workload, which is why thousands of businesses are still waiting.
So their portal can help you stay organized, but the final and true status is always whatever the IRS shows.
A Quick Note Before You Move ForwardBecause the IRS is still working through a large ERTC backlog in 2025, each update takes time. So you might not see movement every month, but the steps above are the only accurate ways to know where your refund stands and whether the IRS has started reviewing it. |
ERTC Credit Refund Status: Common Processing Delays Explained
When you look at where your ERTC refund stands, it helps to know the points inside the IRS system where things usually slow down. Each claim passes through several layers before any refund is released, and a delay at even one step can hold the whole thing for weeks or months. So here is a simple, clear look at why many claims take longer than expected in 2025.
- Stronger fraud and eligibility checks: The IRS added deeper review filters after finding a large wave of improper ERTC claims filed by promoters. These filters look at factors like refund size, how eligibility was explained, and whether the claim matches patterns the IRS considers high-risk. When a claim triggers one of these checks, it moves out of the normal path and into manual review.
- The earlier pause on new ERTC claims: Back in late 2023, the IRS paused the processing of many newly filed ERTC claims. Even though the pause has been lifted, the slowdown from that period pushed older claims further down the line. A large part of that backlog is still clearing in 2025.
- Mismatches in wage or revenue numbers: If the IRS cannot match your wages, revenue drops, shutdown dates, or Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) allocations with the information already in their system, the claim stops moving until someone reviews it by hand. Even small differences can lead to this kind of delay.
- Higher-value refunds needing extra checks: Larger refunds go through more verification because the IRS reviews each quarter, one by one. They look closely at qualified wages, PPP interactions, and whether the calculations fit the rules for that specific period.
- Claims prepared by ERTC mills: A lot of promoters used the same template for thousands of filings, and many of those filings included weak eligibility explanations. The IRS now runs these through additional filters, which slows them down automatically.
- Form 941-X errors: Simple mistakes like a wrong employer identification number (EIN), wrong quarter, miscalculated wages, or even small entry errors push the claim into a manual unit instead of automated processing. That alone can make the review take much longer.
- Waiting for a response to an IRS letter: If the IRS has already asked for documents and they are still waiting for a reply, the claim will not move. The refund only continues once the IRS receives and records the information it requested.
Knowing how these delays happen gives you a clearer idea of what could be holding your claim and what the IRS is likely reviewing at this stage. And if the IRS feels that something in the filing doesn’t match their records, they may move the claim into a closer examination. This step is still a routine review and not a full audit, and many ERTC claims go through this before continuing in the system.
How Long Does It Take to Receive the ERTC Refund in 2025?
In 2025, the IRS has already confirmed that ERTC refund processing is taking longer than usual. The agency paused ERTC work because of widespread fraud concerns and shifted to deeper reviews before releasing any refund. That pause created a large backlog, and the IRS is still working through it in a slow, steady manner.
The National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) has also noted that many ERTC claims may not be completed until late 2025. This means the timing largely depends on how long your claim stays in review and how quickly the IRS finishes its verification steps. Some claims move sooner, while others remain in the system for several months.
And if the IRS finds that part of the claim was not accurate during this review, they may adjust the refund amount, and in some cases, they may add interest or penalties that apply to the corrected period.
IRS ERTC Refund Status Updates and Current Backlog Reports
When you look for updates on your ERTC refund, the best information always comes from what the IRS has publicly shared over the last two years. And in late 2025, the agency is still giving regular notices about how they are handling old claims, what they are reviewing first, and how large the remaining backlog still is.
So here’s a simple and meaningful look at the updates that actually matter right now.
The IRS Is Still Using Stronger Review Checks for ERTC Claims
The agency kept the deeper fraud filters in place through 2024 and 2025. These checks focus on refund size, how eligibility was explained, and whether the filing came from high-risk promoters. The IRS has said that these filters will stay active until the entire backlog is cleared.
The Backlog from the 2023 ERTC Pause Is Still Being Worked Through
Back in late 2023, the IRS paused the processing of newly filed ERTC claims. That pause pushed a lot of older filings further down the line. In the updates shared through 2024 and 2025, the IRS confirmed that this older pile is still being handled in stages, which is why refunds continue moving slowly even for claims filed years ago.
The National Taxpayer Advocate Continues to Report Slow Movement
The National Taxpayer Advocate has mentioned in several reports that many ERTC cases may not be fully resolved until late 2025. These reports also highlight that manual reviews are taking time because each quarter must be verified separately.
IRS Examiners Are Prioritising Claims Tied to Earlier Quarters
Another update the IRS shared is that older quarters, especially from 2020, are moving ahead faster because they require fewer eligibility checks. Later quarters, mostly from 2021, still carry more scrutiny because of the rule changes and the higher credit percentage available that year.
Letters and Verifications Remain the Main Communication Method
The IRS has confirmed that most progress updates will still come through physical mail. Even in 2025, ERTC status cannot be tracked online, so the agency continues relying on exam notices, adjustment letters, and verification requests to move cases forward.
What to Do if Your ERTC Refund is Delayed?
If your ERTC refund hasn’t moved for a while, the best thing you can do is take a few simple steps that help you understand what’s holding it up and make sure nothing is missing on your side. The IRS is still working through older filings in 2025, so delays are common, but you can still keep your case on track by doing the following:
- Call the IRS again to confirm your latest status: You can contact the IRS at 800-829-4933 and ask an agent to check the exact stage of your Form 941-X. This is still the most direct way to know what’s happening.
- Look for any IRS letters you may have received: Many delays happen because the IRS sent a request for documents or clarification. If a letter is waiting, respond as soon as you can so the review continues.
- Check your IRS business transcript: Your transcript may show updates like “Amended Return Received,” “Adjustment Made,” or “Examination Opened.” These small changes help you see whether the claim has moved.
- Make sure the IRS has your current address: A refund can get stuck if notices are going to an old address. Updating your address ensures you receive every letter on time.
- Keep your documents ready: If the IRS asks for anything, such as payroll records, revenue comparisons, or PPP details, having everything in one place helps you reply quickly and avoid further delays.
| Note → One important thing to keep in mind is that the IRS may apply part of the refund to any outstanding older tax balance you already have through an offset, so it helps to know whether there is any unpaid amount tied to past years. |
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FAQs
You can check your ERTC refund only through the IRS channels that still update payroll tax credit filings. There is no online tracker for this, so the steps stay simple.
You can do the following:
Call the IRS business line at 800-829-4933 and ask an agent to look up your Form 941 X. They can tell you if it is received, in review, adjusted, or closed.
Check your IRS business transcript, because it sometimes shows short updates like “Amended return received” or “Examination opened.”
Look at your mail for any IRS notice. The IRS still uses letters to share updates or request documents.
These three options are the only reliable ways to see movement on an ERTC refund.
Most delays happen because the IRS is still reviewing older filings with stronger checks. These reviews take time, and many claims move through several layers before the IRS finishes.
A delay usually comes from one of these situations:
The IRS is matching your wages, revenue drops, shutdown periods, or PPP details with what they already have.
The refund amount is on the higher side, so it needs a deeper review.
Your claim was prepared using templates that many promoters used, and the IRS reviews those more closely.
The IRS sent a letter asking for information and is waiting for your response.
These delays are common in 2025 and mostly show that your claim is still in the normal review path.
No, you cannot track an ERTC refund online. The “Where’s My Refund?” tool does not connect to payroll credit filings, so nothing related to ERTC appears there. The IRS has not added any online option for these refunds because they move through older payroll systems that rely on manual updates.
So you can only:
Call the IRS business line.
Check your IRS transcript.
Read any letters the IRS mails to you.
These are still the only ways to see where your refund stands.
If your refund has been stuck for a while, it helps to check a few things that show whether the IRS has moved your claim or is waiting for something from you. These steps do not speed up the IRS, but they keep you updated and make sure nothing small is slowing the process.
You can do the following:
Call the IRS business line at 800 829 4933 and ask an agent to read the latest update on your Form 941 X.
Check your mail to see if the IRS sent a letter requesting documents or clarification.
Review your IRS business transcript for entries like “Amended return received” or “Adjustment made.”
Confirm your current address with the IRS so every notice reaches you on time.
Keep your records ready, such as payroll details and PPP information, in case the IRS asks for anything.
These steps help you understand what is happening and make sure your refund keeps moving without avoidable delays.
