By Jim Donovan:  If you have an income tax refund coming, you want to get your hands on it sooner, rather than later.  If you think your federal refund should have arrived by now, you may want to check on its status.

You can check via phone by calling the I.R.S. refund hotline at 800-829-1954.  To check online visit  the “Where’s My Refund?” page on the I.R. S. website, http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html?portlet=8

Regardless of whether you check online or via the phone, you’ll need to input your Social Security Number, filing status and for security purposes, you’ll need to provide the exact amount of your expected refund.

They should be able to tell you when you and your money will be reunited.