Filed your tax return and wondering where your refund is? Here’s how you can keep up to speed with your refund
With your tax return safely filed, you’re probably wondering ‘how long will it be before I receive my tax refund?’
Fortunately you can now get information about your tax refund online.
Here’s what you need to know…
Your Federal tax refund
Generally the IRS advises that you will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks after you mail your return before you receive your money.
If you would like to keep updated with the status of your Federal tax refund, you can do so by using the IRS’ online “Where’s My Refund?” tool.
The system will ask you for the following:
- Your Social Security Number, or your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
- Your filing status (Single or Married Filing Separate Return for non-residents)
- The exact dollar refund amount shown on your tax return
It’s a good idea to have a copy of your federal tax return on hand so you can easily enter the required information.
You can also check the status of your refund over the phone by calling one of the following numbers:
- The IRS Refund Hotline – 800-829-1954. This number, available 24/7, is specifically for calls regarding tax refunds.
- The IRS TeleTax system – 800-829-4477. This provides general tax information as well as your current refund status. It is also available 24/7
Your State tax refund
Firstly Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming don’t have income tax. If you received income such as wages, scholarship or any other earnings and/or income, you would not have been required to file a State tax return and you will therefore have no entitlement to a State tax refund.
In addition, New Hampshire and Tennessee only tax interest and dividend income, not wages, scholarship, earnings, or other type of income.
For all other States, you can check the status of your State tax refund by using the useful links listed below.
Alabama (AL)
The Alabama Department of Revenue advises that it usually takes 8-12 weeks for tax filers to receive a refund from the date a return is accepted.
To check the status of your Alabama state tax refund, go to My Alabama Taxes and then click ‘Check on My Refund Status’.
For more information, contact the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Arizona (AZ)
The Arizona Department of Revenue advises that the processing of a paper filed tax return can take up to 12 weeks to process. For a refund to be direct deposited or mailed, it may take up to an additional seven days from the date the tax return processing was completed.
You can check the status of your Arizona state tax refund here.
Or, for more information, contact the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Arkansas (AR)
It can take up to 6 weeks after the date your return was accepted to receive a refund from the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration.
To check the status of your Arkansas State tax refund, simply follow this link (and click ‘Where’s My Refund?’)
For more information, contact the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (see the ‘Individual Income Tax’ section).
California (CA)
The State of California Franchise Tax Board says that it can take approximately 4 weeks to receive a refund (for paper-filed returns). Some tax returns need extra review for accuracy, completeness, and to protect taxpayers from fraud and identity theft and extra processing time may be necessary in these cases.
To check the status of your California State tax refund, simply follow this link.
For more information, contact the California Franchise Tax Board.
Colorado (CO)
Follow this link to check the status of your Colorado state tax refund, and then click ‘Check the Status of Your Refund’.
Or you can find more information about your refund by contacting the Colorado Department of Revenue.
Connecticut (CT)
According to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, it can take 10 – 12 weeks to process a paper return.
Follow this link to check the status of your Connecticut state tax refund (and then click ‘Check on the Status of Your Refund’).
For more information, contact the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS).
Delaware (DE)
The Delaware Division of Revenue advises that has announced it can take approximately 6 weeks to receive a refund from the date a tax return is accepted.
Follow this link to check the status of your Delaware state tax refund.
Further information, can be found by contacting the Delaware Division of Revenue.
District of Columbia (DC)
The D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue advises that it can take 2 to 3 weeks for processing and issuance of a refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your D.C. tax refund and click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button.
For more information, contact the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue.
Georgia (GA)
The Georgia Income Tax Division has said that it can take 90 business days to process a return and issue a tax refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your Georgia tax refund (click on the Where’s My Refund? button).
For more information, contact the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Hawaii (HI)
Typically, it takes 9-10 weeks for the Hawaii Department of Taxation to process a tax refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your Hawaii tax refund (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
For more information, contact the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Idaho (ID)
The Idaho State Tax Commission advises that it can take 10-11 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
To check the status of your refund simply follow this link (and click the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
For more details you can contact the Idaho State Tax Commission.
Illinois (IL)
You can check the status of your Illinois tax refund here.
For more information contact the Illinois Department of Revenue here.
Indiana (IN)
The Indiana Department of Revenue says that it can take approximately 10 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
You can check the status of your Indiana tax refund here, or alternatively, if you’d like further information, contact the Indiana Department of Revenue.
Iowa (IA)
According to the Iowa Income Tax Department of Revenue and Finance, it can take approximately 3 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
Check the status of your Iowa tax refund here.
Or for more information, contact the Iowa Department of Revenue.
Kansas (KS)
The Kansas Department of Revenue has announced that the normal processing time for a paper tax return is 16 weeks.
Follow this link to check the status of your Kansas tax refund.
And more information can be obtained by contacting the Kansas Division of Taxation for Individuals.
Kentucky (KY)
The Kentucky Revenue Cabinet advises that you will typically have to wait 8-12 weeks before you will receive your tax refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your Kentucky tax refund and click on the ‘Check Refund Status online’ button.
For more information, contact the Kentucky Department of Revenue.
Louisiana (LA)
The Louisiana Department of Revenue says that processing time for paper returns is 12-16 weeks from the date the return was mailed.
You can check the status of your Louisiana tax refund here.
Or for more information, contact the Louisiana Department of Revenue or call 1-855-307-3893.
Maine (ME)
The Maine Revenue Services advises that tax refunds can take up to 14 days to be processed.
Check the status of your Maine tax refund here.
For more information, you can contact the Maine Revenue Services Department directly here.
Maryland (MD)
The Maryland Controller of the Treasury has outlined announced that the processing of paper returns takes approximately 30 days.
If you would like an update on your tax refund, you can check the status here.
Need more info? Simply contact the Comptroller of Maryland.
Massachusetts (MA)
You can check the status of your Massachusetts tax refund here (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
And you can find more information, by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
Michigan (MI)
The Michigan Department of the Treasury says it can take approximately 8 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your Michigan tax refund.
For more information, contact the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Minnesota (MN)
If you filed a Minnesota State tax return, you will probably have to wait 6 weeks for your tax refund.
You can check the status of your refund here. And you can find any further information you require by contacting the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Mississippi (MS)
Check the status of your Mississippi tax refund here.
Or contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue for more information.
Missouri (MO)
The Missouri Department of Revenue advises that it can take 8-10 weeks to process a tax return and issue a refund.
Check the status of your Missouri tax refund here.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Montana (MT)
The Montana Department of Revenue has detailed that it can take approximately 8 weeks to process a return and issue a tax refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your tax refund (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
Or for more information, contact the Montana Department of Revenue.
Nebraska (NE)
The Nebraska Department of Revenue has announced it can take 15-21 days to process a return and issue a refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your Nebraska tax refund.
More details can be found by contacting the Nebraska Department of Revenue.
New Jersey (NJ)
According to the New Jersey State Department, it can take 12 weeks or longer to process a return and issue a refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your New Jersey tax refund.
Or for more information, contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
New Mexico (NM)
The New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department has said that it can take approximately 8-12 weeks to process a tax return and issue a refund.
To check the status of your New Mexico tax refund, follow this link (and click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
For more information, contact the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department.
New York (NY)
The New York State Processing Center usually issues refunds 8-12 weeks after they receive a tax return.
You can check the status of your New York tax refund here (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’) button.
Or for more information, contact the Department of Taxation and Finance.
North Carolina (NC)
The North Carolina Department of Revenue has announced it can take approximately 12 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
Follow this link to check the status of your North Carolina tax refund (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
For more information, contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
North Dakota (ND)
The North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner says that it can take approximately 6 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
You can follow this link to check the status of your North Dakota tax refund (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
Or for more information, contact the North Dakota Office of the State Tax Commissioner.
Ohio (OH)
The Ohio Department of Taxation advises that it can take a minimum of 30 days to process a return and issue a tax refund.
You can check the status of your Ohio tax refund here and find more information by contacting the Ohio Department of Taxation directly.
Oklahoma (OK)
Follow this link to check the status of your Oklahoma tax refund.
And for more information, you can contact the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
Oregon (OR)
You can check the status of your Oregon tax refund here.
And for more information, you can contact the Oregon Department of Revenue.
Pennsylvania (PA)
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, it can take 3 to 4 weeks for a tax refund to be processed.
Check the status of your Pennsylvania tax refund here (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website above..
Rhode Island (RI)
The Rhode Island Division of Taxation says it can take 5 to 7 weeks to process a tax return and issue a refund.
Simply follow this link to check the status of your Rhode Island tax refund.
For more information, contact the Rhode Island Division of Taxation directly.
South Carolina (SC)
Follow this link to check the status of your South Carolina tax refund.
For more information, contact South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Utah (UT)
The Utah State Tax Commission says that it can take 90 days to process a return and issue a refund.
If you would like to check the status of your Utah tax refund, you can do so here (click on the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ button).
For more information, contact the Utah State Tax Commission.
Vermont (VT)
The Vermont Department of Taxes advises that it can take approximately 8 weeks to process a return and issue a refund.
You can check the status of your Vermont tax refund here (click ‘Individuals’ and then ‘Check the status of my return’).
For more information, contact Vermont Department of Taxes directly.
Virginia (VA)
The Virginia Department of Taxation says it can take up to 8 weeks to process a tax return and issue a refund.
Simply follow this link to check the status of your Virginia tax refund.
For more information, contact the Virginia Department of Taxation.
West Virginia (WV)
Follow this link to check the status of your West Virginia state refund.
Wisconsin (WI)
You can check your Wisconsin refund status here and find more information by contacting the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Haven’t filed your tax return yet?
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