Where’s my state refund? See how to track it.

Written by: Kim Porter
• Updated •4 min read
Man looking through papers while his daughter sits on his lap, holding a calculator and pencilImage: Man looking through papers while his daughter sits on his lap, holding a calculator and pencil

In a Nutshell

Every state with a personal income tax provides taxpayers with online tools to help them track their state-level income tax refunds. After filing a state income tax return, you may have to wait weeks or even months to get your refund. But in most states, you can start tracking your refund quickly.
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If you’ve filed a state tax return and you’re expecting a refund, there’s no hard-and-fast rule for when you’ll get your money.

But every state that has a personal income tax also provides online tools that can help taxpayers understand the status of their state tax return and any refund they’re owed.

Let’s look at the information you might need to track a state refund, and how to find out when to expect yours.

Where’s my state tax refund?

Every state with an individual income tax has an online tool to help taxpayers track their state refunds. Generally, you’ll have to provide your Social Security number and some other basic information such as the exact amount of your refund to track your refund.

Check out this map to navigate to your state’s refund tracking pages.

What information do I need to track a state refund?

Not all states have a state-level income tax. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming don’t have personal income taxes — although Tennessee and New Hampshire tax some dividends and interest. If you live in one of these states, you probably only need to keep tabs on any federal refund you’re due.

If you live in a state that does levy its own income tax, you may be able to e-file your state return for free directly through the state’s website. Then, you may be able to track your refund by signing up for notifications, logging into a web portal or downloading a mobile app. The options available to you vary by state, so make sure to visit your state’s website for more information.

The kind of information you can get on your state refund’s status varies as well. Every state has its own process for checking on personal income tax returns. For example, some allow you to check on only your current year return, while others allow you to check prior years. To access your information in certain states, you may need to register for an account first and provide details such as …

  • Your Social Security number or another commonly used identifier, such as an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN
  • Your anticipated refund amount
  • Your date of birth, tax year of the return, filing status or ZIP code

How long will my state refund take?

The IRS says it sends most federal tax refunds in 21 days, but every state processes returns at its own pace. For example, refunds generally take up to two weeks to process in California if you e-file, while it generally takes up to 12 weeks if you’ve filed a paper return in Kentucky.

And just as certain situations can slow down your federal refund — like claiming certain tax credits — some situations generally can further slow down your state income tax refund, like …

  • Filing a paper return
  • Choosing to receive a paper check instead of direct deposit
  • Making errors on the return or forgetting to include necessary documents
  • Certain states are implementing new security measures to combat identity theft, which may increase the processing times for refunds.

When should I start checking on my refund?

States typically send verification, via email or postal mail, when they’ve received and accepted a return. As soon as you get that notification, you can typically start tracking the status of your tax refund within a few days to a week, depending on whether you e-filed or paper filed your state tax return. It’s possible some states may take longer. Some states update taxpayer account information every few days.

What if my refund is overdue?

You’re probably eager to get that refund check in your hands (or your bank account).

If your state’s estimated time frame for issuing a refund has passed and you still haven’t received yours, your state may offer a solution, such as calling a customer service hotline.

Bottom line

If you’ve filed a state income tax return, you could wait months to get any refund you’re owed. Taxpayers who e-file and request a direct deposit can typically expect a quicker turnaround. But the timeline doesn’t have to be a mystery. Head to your state’s taxpayer page to check the status of your refund.

Relevant sources: IRS: Where’s My Refund? | Massachusetts Department of Revenue MassTax Connect | Iowa Department of Revenue, Where’s My Refund | NDTax, Where’s My Refund? | Virginia Tax, Refund Status | Alabama Department of Revenue: My Alabama Taxes | Colorado Department of Revenue | Utah’s Taxpayer Access Point

About the author: Kim Porter is a writer and editor who has written for AARP the Magazine, Credit Karma, Reviewed.com, U.S. News & World Report, and more. Her favorite topics include maximizing credit card rewards and budgeting. Wh… Read more.