IRS has an online tool that makes tracking tax refunds easy

Yes, some of you probably filled out your forms when you received your W-2 and other documents to get your refund as soon as possible. But plenty of us wait until the last minute to file our tax returns.

If you filed a paper return, you should be able to check the status of your refund by using the "Where's My Refund" tool at IRS.gov.

Taxpayers who file electronically can get a status update as soon as three days after the IRS acknowledges receipt of their e-filed return.

For those of you filing at the last minute, the fastest way to get your refund is to have it directly deposited into your checking or savings account. You can do so by providing your account information on your Form 1040.

Last year, the total amount refunded to individual taxpayers broke the $300 billion mark for the first time. More than 110 million taxpayers received refunds averaging $2,753.

Now is a good time to think about seeing what you can add to your paycheck by adjusting your withholding. Sure, it feels great to get a big check you can use to pay down debt, fund a vacation or add to a retirement account. But it means you're handing over too much money to Uncle Sam -- money you could use each month to pay bills, buy groceries, invest in stocks or whatever.

-- Kiplinger's Personal Finance