The IRS and state tax agencies have implemented policies to protect you from fraud. Many agencies have changed their approval process in order to prevent those trying to steal your refund from succeeding. As a result, some refunds may be issued later than others.
Refunds are not controlled by TaxAct, so you can still complete and file your return as usual. This will help you be at the head of the line once the issuing agency is ready to send refunds.
These delays won't affect all taxpayers, so to help you determine when to expect your refund we've put together the following list:
Affected taxpayers: Those who claim the Earned Income Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC)
Refunds issued: Not before mid February. For example, last year refunds were issued within 21 days of February 15.
Alabama - For the most up-to-date information concerning the status of your current year refund, call 1-855-894-7391 or check our website at www.revenue.alabama.gov, then click on "Where’s My Refund". Return processing times vary depending on many factors, including complexity of the return and our identity verification processes. Please allow 8 to 12 weeks to receive your refund.
The Department is once again converting some tax refunds to a paper check that were requested to be delivered by direct deposit. Making this change is intended to prevent criminals from easily diverting fraudulently filed refunds to their own accounts. Avoiding potential refund fraud by sending paper checks outweighs taking the risk of sending a refund electronically to the wrong party.
Alaska - None provided.
Arizona - To assist taxpayers and tax professionals expecting refunds, ADOR encourages tax professionals and taxpayers to use the "Where’s My Refund" tool located at AZTaxes.gov/Home/CheckRefund.
Refund Lookup Tool: https://aztaxes.gov/Home/CheckRefund
Refund Info page: https://azdor.gov/wheres-my-refund
Arkansas - Identity Theft has been a growing problem nationally and the Department is taking additional measures to ensure tax refunds are issued to the correct individuals. These additional measures may result in tax refunds not being issued as quickly as in past years.
Arkansas "Where’s My Refund": http://www.atap.arkansas.gov
California - No changes.
URL: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/refund/index.asp
Colorado - In the best interest of all our taxpayers, the Colorado Department of Revenue implements measures to detect and prevent identity theft-related refund fraud. Fraud detection, along with verification that claims made on an individual income tax return are valid and the documentation is submitted with the returns, are part of the process of ensuring the return is correct and complete and that taxpayers receive the refund amount to which they are entitled. Please be aware that these measures, meant to ensure state tax dollars are going to the right person, could delay individual income tax refunds up to 60 days beyond the time frames of prior years
URL: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax/refund
Connecticut - Taxpayers can check on the status of their Income Tax refund using DRS’ myconneCT portal by visiting https://drs.ct.gov/eservices and selecting the Where’s my Refund? option in the Individuals panel. Taxpayers must provide their SSN, Tax Year, and the exact amount of the refund requested.
Delaware - You will receive a tax return acknowledgement from the Delaware Division of Revenue when your return has been received and is being processed. If additional information is needed to process your return, the Division of Revenue will contact you. Refund time frames can vary depending on the complexity of your return, but our goal is to process refunds within eight weeks of receipt. You can check the status of your refund at any time at https://revenue.delaware.gov.
District of Columbia - On average, the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) issues refunds within 6 weeks. Taxpayers can view their refund status by visiting OTR’s online portal, MyTax.DC.gov. Via MyTax.DC.gov, a refund status is provided only for a return filed within the last six months. For additional information or inquiries, taxpayers should contact OTR’s e-Services Unit at (202) 759-1946.
URL: https://mytax.dc.gov
Georgia - The Georgia Department of Revenue strives to protect Georgia taxpayers from tax fraud. It may take up to 12 weeks from the date of receipt by GADOR to process a return and issue a refund. All first-time Georgia income tax filers, or taxpayers who have not filed in Georgia for at least five (5) years, will receive a paper check.
URL: https://dor.georgia.gov/wheres-my-refund
Hawaii - Check your Individual Tax Refund Status at the Department of Hawaii Taxation website.
URL: https://tax.idaho.gov/taxes/income-tax/individual-income/refund/
Idaho - Typical refund time frames are 7-8 weeks for e-filed returns and 10-11 weeks for paper returns. There are some exceptions. For more information, please visit ISTC website: Where’s my Refund?
URL: https://tax.idaho.gov/taxes/income-tax/individual-income/refund/
Illinois - The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is required to review returns and ensure the amounts requested as refunds are issued accurately and to the legitimate recipient. Once a return is received by IDOR, many different factors can affect the timing of a refund. Some returns take longer to review than others for many reasons including, but not limited to,
URL: https://tax.illinois.gov/individuals/refunds.html
Indiana - Refund expectations - URL: https://www.in.gov/dor/individual-income-taxes/check-the-status-of-your-refund/
Iowa - The anticipated time frame for refund processing is 30-45 days. Please check your Iowa refund status online at govconnect.iowa.gov. The information on Where's My Refund? is the same information available to our phone representatives.
Kansas - Taxpayers expecting refunds that filed electronically can expect a deposit in 10 to 14 business days. Taxpayers expecting a refund that filed using a paper form should allow at least 16 to 20 weeks to receive a refund back by mail. To check your current year tax refund go to our website or call 1-785-368-8222 for automated refund information. You will need your Social Security number(s) and the expected amount of your refund. Any errors, inaccurate forms or information, photocopied forms, or incomplete information will delay the processing of a return and can extend the timeframe for you to expect your refund.
URL: https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/kcsc/increfundstatus.aspx
Kentucky - The Kentucky Department of Revenue takes active steps to protect taxpayers, and taxpayer dollars, from fraud and identity theft. This can increase the time it takes to review and process income tax returns and requests for refunds. The department strives to process individual income tax requests efficiently and is committed to processing individual requests for income tax refunds within a timely manner.
Taxpayers may check their refund status online by using the Where’s My Refund? application on the Kentucky Department of Revenue website.
Louisiana - No changes.
URL: www.revenue.louisiana.gov
Maine - Refund status is updated nightly. Any change to your refund information will show the following day.
URL: https://portal.maine.gov/refundstatus/refund
Maryland - Individual taxpayers can check the status of their refund by visiting www.marylandtaxes.gov and clicking on “Where’s my refund?” or by calling the automated refund inquiry hotline, toll-free 1-800-218-8160 or 410-260- 7701. Advise taxpayers to wait at least 10 days from acceptance of their return before calling Taxpayer Services Division at toll-free 1-800-638-2937 or 410-260-7980.
URL: https://interactive.marylandtaxes.gov/INDIV/refundstatus/home.aspx
Massachusetts
URL: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/tips-for-filing-taxes
Michigan - No announced changes.
Minnesota - Every return we receive is different and processing time will vary. You can follow the status of your refund by using Minnesota’s Where’s My Refund? system.
Mississippi - The Mississippi Department of Revenue has additional procedures and safeguards in our system return processes in order to mitigate potential fraud. These processes will validate income tax returns and credits reported prior to issuing requested refunds. As a result, these additional procedures may cause a delay in refund processing in order to ensure that the right refunds are being paid to the right taxpayers.
Missouri - Generally, the timeframe for issuing refunds depends on when the return is filed and the incoming volumes. For returns filed in January with no problems noted, refunds can sometimes be issued within a week. However, refunds from returns filed in April can sometimes take 8 weeks, even if there is no problem with the return as the state manages its cash resources to meet all of its obligations. The timing of refunds is also affected by the Department’s measures to prevent identity theft and refund fraud. Refunds will only be issued when the Department has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the individuals claiming the refunds are not using stolen identities.
Montana - Processing refunds can take up to 90 days. The Department may ask you to verify information prior to sending the refund. You can find more information about our refund process and check your refund status on Montana’s website at https://mtrevenue.gov/resources/citizen/taxpayer-protection/identity-verification-letter
Note: First-time filers in Montana will receive a paper check.
Nebraska - To check the status of an individual income tax refund please use the Refund Information web page (below) for the most up to date information.
URL: https://revenue.nebraska.gov/individuals/refund-information
New Hampshire - No announced changes.
New Jersey - No changes announced.
URL: https://www20.state.nj.us/TYTR_TGI_INQ/jsp/prompt.jsp
New Mexico - You can see the status of your refund at the Department's website (TAP) at https://tap.state.nm.us. Under the PERSONAL INCOME section, click the link titled Where’s My Refund? Select your social security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the ID Type dropdown menu then enter the number in the field provided. Lastly, enter the exact refund amount in the field provided then click the search button. You are not required to register to use this service.
Before calling about your refund, please allow time for the Department to process your refund claim. Generally, electronically filed returns claiming a refund are processed in 6 to 8 weeks. A paper return claiming a refund takes 8 to 12 weeks to process. If sufficient time has passed for your return to be processed, access TAP for additional information or contact us at (866) 285-2996.
New Jersey - No changes.
New York - No changes.
North Carolina - You can get up to date information regarding refund processing and check the status of your refund online at https://www.ncdor.gov/file-pay/refund-process. To view status information, you will be prompted to enter your Social Security Number along with the exact amount of your refund. You can also call our toll-free refund inquiry line at 1-877-252-4052, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
URL: www.ncdor.gov/refund
North Dakota - Sign up for text or email alerts that provide you updates on the status of your refund! Refund statuses are updated daily. Choose direct deposit for the quickest turn-around time.
URL: tax.nd.gov/refund.
Ohio - Taxpayers who request a direct deposit for an original return may expect a refund within 15 business days. Paper returns will take approximately 8 to 10 weeks to process. If the refund is not received in this time period, please use the “Check My Refund Status” on OH|TAX eservices at tax.ohio.gov/myportal.
Ohio (PTE Only) - The Ohio Department of Taxation aims to process refunds within 90 days of the refund request. Interest is paid on any overpayment in excess of one dollar from the date of the overpayment until the date of the refund of the overpayment, except that if any overpayment is refunded within 90 days after the due date of the annual return or within 90 days after the return was filed, whichever is later, no interest shall be allowed on such overpayment. See R.C. 5747.11(C).
City of Columbus, Ohio - The quickest way to check your refund status is to access CRISP (crisp.columbus.gov) and select the “Where’s my refund” link. Please have your filed tax return in front of you for verification purposes.
Oklahoma - If the return was e-filed, taxpayers can generally begin checking on their refund about four business days after the return was accepted by the OTC. If the return was paper filed, taxpayers should wait about three weeks to begin checking on their refund. Once processed, allow five business days for the deposit to be made to a bank account. For debit card refunds, allow five to seven business days for delivery. To check the refund status, visit OkTAP at tax.ok.gov and click Where’s My Refund.
Oregon - Oregon Department of Revenue will start issuing refunds on February 15, 2024 (this is for individual income tax forms only).
URL: www.oregon.gov/dor
Portland - If you are requesting a refund, please allow four (4) to six (6) weeks for the City of Portland to process your request.
Pennsylvania - If you filed electronically it takes approximately 4 weeks to process your tax return. However, if the department needs to verify information reported on your return or request additional information, the process will take longer. After your overpayment is processed, it normally takes an additional 3 to 4 weeks for your refund to be mailed or direct deposited.
URL: https://www.mypath.pa.gov
Philadelphia - To check the status of your Refund go to Philadelphia Tax Center “Where is my Refund” link below or contact Refund.Unit@phila.gov.
URL: https://tax-services.phila.gov
Rhode Island - No announced changes.
URL: Where’s My Refund? https://tax.ri.gov/online-services/wheres-my-refund
South Carolina - No announced changes.
URL: dor.sc.gov/refund
Tennessee - To assist taxpayers and tax professionals expecting refunds, the TDOR encourages taxpayers to request refunds through its online TNTAP portal. All refunds will be issued by paper check.
URL: https://www.tn.gov/revenue/existing-businesses/request-a-refund.html
Utah - You can track the status of your income tax refund by visiting Utah’s Taxpayer Access Point. Each return we receive is different, and processing time will vary. Due to our efforts to protect your identity, please allow 120 days from the date you filed your return or 120 days from March 1 (whichever comes later) for us to process your return and refund.
URL: https://incometax.utah.gov/refunds
Vermont - Are you curious to know the status of your refund? After you file your return, you may learn the status by visiting myVTax, select Check the status of your return. Once you transmit your e-filed return it may take up to 72 hours for your information to become available. For those who paper file, the information regarding the status of a return can take 4 weeks or more to become available on myVTax.
URL: https://myvtax.vermont.gov/
Virginia - No announced changes.
URL: https://www.tax.virginia.gov/wheres-my-refund
Washington - We will review your application shortly. Most applicants receive a response from us within 30 days letting them know their credit is on the way or if we need additional information. If you have questions in the meantime, please call 360-763-7300. To view the status of your application, go to WorkingFamiliesCredit.wa.gov and click on Where Is My Refund.
For the Working Families Tax Credit applications: URL: WorkingFamiliesCredit.wa.gov
West Virginia - The West Virginia State Tax Department continues to respond to an increased risk of fraudulent filings and is implementing enhanced security measures for your protection. As a result, expect significant delay of your tax refund. You should only call concerning your refund if it has been more than 10 weeks since filing your return. In the interim, please use this tool to check the status of your refund.
Typical refund timeframes for correctly filed returns:
Refund Exceptions:
Wisconsin - No changes.
URL: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/Apps/TaxReturnStatus.aspx