How To Check Your ERC Refund Status (2026 Update)

If your business filed an ERC claim and you’re still waiting to hear back from the IRS, you’re not alone. The IRS closed the vast majority of ERC claims by December 2025, but approximately 41,000 claims remain under exam or appeal.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to check your ERC refund status, what the current processing landscape looks like, and what to do if your claim has been delayed, denied, or disallowed.

Where Things Stand: ERC Claims In 2026

The filing window for the Employee Retention Credit officially closed on April 15, 2025. By the end of 2025, the IRS had processed the vast majority of claims, but the job isn’t finished.

Approximately 41,000 claims remain under exam or appeal as of early 2026. Processing delays are expected to continue due to limited IRS capacity and the ongoing scrutiny of high-risk filings. Businesses still waiting on a pending claim should be prepared for a longer timeline and should monitor any IRS correspondence closely.

The IRS has not posted general updates on the ERC claims backlog or estimated processing timelines, which means the best way to check your status remains calling the IRS directly.

One important note: The IRS is prevented from allowing or refunding Q3 and Q4 2021 ERC claims filed after January 31, 2024, where the refund was not received before July 4, 2025. If your claim falls into this category, it has been disallowed under the One Big Beautiful Bill and is no longer eligible for payment.

How Do I Check My ERC Refund Status?

The best way to check the status of your ERC claim is to call the IRS directly. Be prepared for potential wait times, as long hold times and difficulty reaching a live agent have been widely reported.

When you call, you’ll need to verify your identity, which may include your legal name, federal employer identification number, and filing information.

Can I Check My ERC Status Online?

Unfortunately, there is no dedicated online tracking tool for ERC refunds. The IRS’s “Where’s My Amended Return?” tool tracks Form 1040-X, and “Where’s My Refund?” tracks Form 1040 refunds. Neither applies to ERC claims filed on Form 941-X. Calling the IRS directly remains your best option.

What If I Used A Third-Party Company To File?

Even if a third-party service filed your claim, you’ll still need to contact the IRS directly to check your refund status. You can also reach out to your filing company for any updates they may have, but the IRS is the only authoritative source on your claim’s status.

How Will I Receive My ERC Refund?

If your claim is still pending and gets approved, here’s what to expect. The IRS will first send a CP210 notice informing you of the change to your tax return and the approved refund amount. You’ll then receive your funds either by check or direct deposit, depending on how your original claim was filed.

Direct deposit is generally faster than a paper check mailed to your business address. If you’re still waiting on a pending claim, make sure your address and banking information on file with the IRS are current to avoid any additional delays.

Once you receive your refund, it’s important to understand how the ERC affects your taxes. See our guide on the tax implications of the Employee Retention Credit.

Why Is My ERC Refund Taking So Long?

If your claim is still pending, there are several reasons why processing has dragged on.

The sheer volume of claims has been the primary driver of delays. At its peak, the IRS faced a backlog of more than 1.2 million pending ERC claims. While significant progress has been made, processing delays are expected to continue into 2026 due to limited IRS capacity and the ongoing scrutiny of high-risk filings.

Several other factors are contributing to the slowdown:

• High fraud volume: The IRS has identified a significant percentage of ERC claims as potentially fraudulent or erroneous, meaning even legitimate claims face additional scrutiny and slower processing times.
• Paper-only filing: Form 941-X, which is used to claim the ERC, cannot be filed electronically. Every claim must be manually processed, which significantly slows things down.
• Staffing and resource constraints: The IRS has faced ongoing staffing challenges, and recent federal workforce reductions have further limited the agency’s capacity to process claims quickly.
• Lack of transparency: The Taxpayer Advocate Service has repeatedly called on the IRS to post general updates on the ERC backlog and estimated processing timelines — something the IRS has not yet done consistently.

Note that as of March 25, 2025, an executive order mandated that all federal tax refunds, including ERC refunds, be disbursed via electronic funds transfer rather than paper checks. Most businesses will need an active bank account on file with the IRS to receive payment.

What Could Delay The Status Of My ERC Refund?

Beyond the broader backlog, certain claim-specific issues can cause additional delays. These include:

• Missing or incomplete information on your Form 941-X
• Numerical errors when calculating your credit amount
• Unusually large refund amounts that trigger additional review
• Claims flagged for audit or additional verification
• Missing signatures or incorrectly completed forms
• Banking information that doesn’t match IRS records

The best thing you can do at this stage is make sure your contact information and banking details are current with the IRS, respond promptly to any correspondence, and consult a tax professional if you receive any notices requesting additional documentation.

What If My ERC Claim Was Disallowed?

If the IRS has denied your ERC claim, you will receive one of two letters:

• Letter 105-C: Full disallowance of your claim
• Letter 106-C: Partial disallowance of your claim

Don’t ignore these letters. Missing the response deadline can permanently affect your rights.

You have three options:

• Respond with documentation. You have 30 days from the date of the letter to respond with supporting documentation. Your response should include a written explanation of why you believe you qualify, business records, payroll documentation, gross receipts records, and worksheets used to calculate your credit. If your response is accepted, the IRS will process your claim without sending it to Appeals.
• Appeal to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals. If the IRS doesn’t accept your documentation, or if you want to appeal immediately, you have two years from the date of your disallowance letter to request an appeal. For claims over $25,000, a formal written protest is required. Be aware that the two-year clock runs regardless of whether your appeal is pending. If the period expires before a decision is made, the IRS cannot issue a refund even if Appeals rules in your favor.
• File suit in federal court. You may file suit in a U.S. District Court or the U.S. Court of Federal Claims within two years of receiving your disallowance letter. This option remains available whether or not you first pursued the Appeals process.

If your claim was disallowed because it was filed after January 31, 2024, under the One Big Beautiful Bill, you may still appeal if you believe your claim was postmarked and properly submitted on or before that date.

Given the strict deadlines and complexity involved, consulting a tax attorney before responding to a disallowance letter is strongly recommended.

If you believe your claim was filed incorrectly as a result of an ERC mill or abusive promoter, see our guide on ERC scams and what to do if you used an ERC mill.

How The One Big Beautiful Bill Affects Your ERC Refund

If your claim is still pending, the One Big Beautiful Bill — signed into law on July 4, 2025 — may directly affect whether you receive a refund at all.

Any Q3 and Q4 2021 claims filed after January 31, 2024, that were still pending as of July 4, 2025, have been retroactively disallowed. If your claim falls into this category, it will not be paid regardless of whether it was otherwise valid. Claims paid before July 4, 2025, are not affected, though claims paid after that date may still be subject to recapture.

If you received a disallowance notice as a result of this provision and believe your claim was filed on or before January 31, 2024, you have the right to appeal to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals.

For a full breakdown of the OBBB’s impact on ERC compliance, see our complete ERC guide.

The Bottom Line On ERC Refund Status

If your ERC claim is still pending, the most important things you can do right now are stay on top of IRS correspondence, make sure your contact and banking information are current, and consult a tax professional if you receive any notices.

If your claim was disallowed, don’t ignore it. You have appeal rights, but the deadlines are strict, and missing them can permanently affect your ability to recover funds.

And if your claim was filed after January 31, 2024, and was still pending as of July 4, 2025, it has been disallowed under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Understanding where your claim stands and what options remain available is the most important step you can take right now.