OK, where’s my refund? I filed early, as the IRS requested, but I still haven’t gotten my check.

If you’re in this situation, what do you do?

You can start by calling 1-800-829-1954. If you filed more than four weeks ago, call 1-800-829-4477.

But, the IRS really doesn't want to talk to you. They’d prefer you go to www.irs.gov and click on “Where’s My Refund.” If you e-file, you can get refund information 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of your return. If you file a paper return, the IRS doesn’t post refund information until three to four weeks after the return has been mailed.

When checking the status of your refund, have a copy of your return in front of you. To get personal refund information, you’ll need:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your filing status: single, joint, head of household or married filing separately.
• The exact dollar refund amount shown on your return.

The IRS online site will be able to:

• Acknowledge receipt of your return.
• Identify the mailing date or direct-deposit date of your refund.
• Note a failure to deliver because of an incorrect address, which can be corrected online.

If your return has been received, and the IRS has sent out a check, you can start a refund trace at the IRS site four weeks from the IRS mailing date.

• Bing: How to spend your tax refund

Refunds are normally sent out weekly, on Fridays. Personally, I’d prefer to owe the IRS (without interest or penalty) rather than get a big refund. That way, I have the use of the money during the year, and any interest earned from it.

The average refund for 2008 was $2,400. The total refunded was almost $257 billion. That’s a huge interest-free loan to the IRS.