If you are eligible for a tax refund, filing earlier could mean your rebate will be paid quicker, but it’s possible your return may require additional review and take longer to process. The deadline to file your taxes this year — both federal and in North Carolina — is April 15.

IRS tax refund may arrive sooner than you think. Here’s a schedule for when you can expect your check or direct deposit.

Visit the tracker page on the IRS website and click the Check your refund button. Once directed to the Refund Status page, enter your details and click Submit. You should be directed to your refund status. Note that it takes 24 hours after you e-file your return or four weeks after you file a paper tax return for your status to appear.

Most taxpayers can expect to receive their refund in a matter of weeks. We’ll show you how you can check up on the status of your tax refund.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, some 140 million people are expected to file their returns by Tax Day, on April 15. When tax season officially opened for filing on Jan. 27, IRS officials said the system had already received "millions of tax returns from across the nation for processing.

Filing a tax return is required for you to receive a tax refund, but filing a return doesn't guarantee you'll receive a tax refund.

And if you anticipate getting a hefty refund back, it may behoove you to get that process started now so you can keep an eye on that check or direct deposit before it gets to you. Yes, individuals who file both online and in-person can use the IRS' website to track the status of their tax refund.