Where to check your state refund online
Every state with an income tax runs a refund tracker on its Department of Revenue website. You log in with your Social Security number and the exact refund amount from your return, and the system shows you whether the refund is still being processed, has been approved, or has already been sent. The tracker updates every few days, not in real time.
To find your state's tracker, search "[your state] tax refund status" or go directly to your state's Department of Revenue website and look for a link labeled "Check Refund Status," "Where's My Refund," or "Refund Tracker." Some states call it something different — Virginia calls it "Where's My Refund," Maryland calls it "Refund Status," and New York calls it "Refund Status Inquiry" — but they all do the same thing.
You will need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married, head of household), and the exact refund amount as it appears on your return. If you do not have the return in front of you, you can find the refund amount on your filing confirmation email or on the IRS transcript (which also shows state refund information if your state filed jointly with federal).
Key Takeaways
- Every state with income tax maintains a refund tracker on its Department of Revenue website, updated every few days.
- You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return to check status.
- If the tracker shows no record of your return after 21 days from filing, contact the state Department of Revenue directly by phone.
- State refunds typically arrive 1 to 3 weeks after the tracker shows "approved," though timing varies by state and payment method.
- If your state refund was supposed to arrive but did not, the state can issue a replacement check or reissue the payment within 30 to 60 days.
How long state refunds take to show up in the tracker
Most state tax systems begin showing refund status within 5 to 10 days of filing, though some states take up to 21 days. If you filed electronically, the tracker usually picks up your return faster than if you mailed a paper return. The tracker will show one of three statuses: "received and processing," "approved," or "issued" (meaning the payment has been sent).
The "received and processing" stage can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on whether the state needs to verify information or match your return against W-2s and 1099s. If your return has errors or is flagged for review, the processing stage takes longer. Once the state approves the refund, the tracker moves to "approved," and the payment is queued to be sent.
Do not assume something is wrong if the tracker shows no record of your return after a few days. Some states do not display returns in the tracker until they have been received and logged into the system, which can take up to three weeks for paper returns. If more than 21 days have passed since you filed and the tracker still shows nothing, call your state Department of Revenue to confirm they received it.
What the tracker status messages actually mean
Received and processing: Your return has been logged into the system and is being reviewed. The state is checking for errors, matching your income information against employer and bank records, and verifying your identity. This stage typically lasts 1 to 4 weeks.
Approved: The state has finished reviewing your return and has approved the refund amount. The payment is now in the queue to be sent. Depending on the state and the payment method you chose, the refund will be issued within 1 to 3 weeks.
Issued: The payment has been sent. If you chose direct deposit, the money should arrive in your bank account within 1 to 5 business days. If you chose a check, it will arrive by mail within 7 to 14 business days, depending on postal delivery time in your area.
No record found: Either your return has not yet been received and logged into the system, or there is an error in the information you entered (wrong SSN, wrong filing status, or wrong refund amount). Try again with the exact figures from your return. If you still get no result after 21 days, call the state.
When to call your state instead of using the tracker
If the tracker shows no record of your return more than 21 days after you filed, or if the status has not changed in more than 30 days, contact your state Department of Revenue by phone. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the date you filed ready. The state can tell you whether the return was received, whether it is being held for review, and when you can expect the refund.
You should also call if the tracker shows "issued" but the refund has not arrived after the expected timeframe. If you chose direct deposit and the money did not hit your account within 5 business days of the "issued" date, or if you chose a check and it has not arrived within 14 days, the state can investigate whether the payment was sent to the wrong account or address, or whether it was lost in the mail.
Most state Department of Revenue phone lines are busiest in February and March. If you reach a busy signal, try calling early in the morning or late in the afternoon, or use the state's online chat or email option if available. Some states also allow you to request a status update by email.
Direct deposit versus check delivery times
If you chose direct deposit on your return, the refund will arrive in your bank account 1 to 5 business days after the tracker shows "issued." The state sends the payment electronically to your bank, and your bank processes it on the next business day. Weekends and bank holidays do not count as business days, so a refund issued on a Friday may not appear until Wednesday.
If you chose a check, the state mails it to the address on your return. Delivery typically takes 7 to 14 business days from the "issued" date, depending on how far the check has to travel and how quickly the postal service processes it. Checks mailed from a state capital in the Midwest may arrive faster than checks mailed from the West Coast to the East Coast. If your check does not arrive within 14 business days, contact the state to request a replacement.
Some states offer a third option: a prepaid debit card. If you chose this option, the card is mailed to you and typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. Once it arrives, you can use it like a regular debit card to withdraw cash or make purchases.
What to do if your refund was supposed to arrive but did not
If the tracker shows "issued" but your direct deposit did not arrive within 5 business days, first check with your bank to confirm the deposit was not rejected or sent to a different account. Log into your online banking and search your transaction history for any deposits from your state Department of Revenue. If you do not see it, call your bank's customer service line and ask whether a deposit from the state was attempted and rejected.
If your bank confirms no deposit was received, call your state Department of Revenue. Bring your bank account number and routing number. The state can verify whether the payment was sent to the correct account, and if there was an error, they can issue a replacement refund. This usually takes 30 to 60 days.
If you chose a check and it has not arrived within 14 business days of the "issued" date, contact the state and request a replacement check. The state will cancel the original check (which stops payment if it has not been cashed) and issue a new one. The replacement check will be mailed to you and should arrive within 7 to 10 business days. If the original check was lost in the mail and later arrives, you cannot cash both — the original will be void once the replacement is issued.
State refund trackers by region
| State | Tracker Name | Website |
|---|---|---|
| California | Where's My Refund | ftb.ca.gov |
| Florida | No state income tax | N/A |
| Illinois | Refund Status | idor.illinois.gov |
| New York | Refund Status Inquiry | tax.ny.gov |
| Texas | No state income tax | N/A |
| Virginia | Where's My Refund | tax.virginia.gov |
| Washington | No state income tax | N/A |
Nine states have no income tax and therefore do not issue state tax refunds: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, and New Hampshire (which taxes only dividends and interest, and most residents do not owe). If you live in one of these states, you will only receive a federal refund.
For states not listed in the table above, search "[your state] Department of Revenue refund status" to find the tracker. Most state websites have a prominent link on the homepage or in the "Individuals" or "Tax Refunds" section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my state refund status if I filed jointly with my spouse?
Yes. Use either spouse's Social Security number to check the status — the refund is tied to the return, not to an individual. You will need the exact refund amount and filing status (married filing jointly). If one spouse files alone, use that person's SSN.
What if I entered the wrong refund amount in the tracker?
The tracker will show "no record found" if the refund amount does not match exactly. Check your filing confirmation email or your tax return for the correct amount, including cents. Some states round to the nearest dollar in the tracker, so if your refund was $1,234.56, try entering $1,235 or $1,234. If you still get no result, call the state.
Does the tracker show federal and state refunds together?
No. Your state tracker shows only your state refund. To check your federal refund, use the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool on irs.gov. Both refunds are processed separately and may arrive at different times.
Can I change my refund delivery method after I file?
Not usually. Once you file, the delivery method (direct deposit, check, or debit card) is locked in. If you need to change it, contact your state Department of Revenue before the refund is issued. After it is issued, you cannot change the method — you will have to wait for the refund to arrive and then deposit or cash it yourself.
What if the tracker says my refund was issued but I never received it and it has been more than 60 days?
Call your state Department of Revenue and ask them to research the payment. Bring your bank account number (if direct deposit) or the address where the check was mailed. The state can confirm whether the payment cleared and, if not, issue a replacement. If the original check was cashed by someone else, the state may need to file a fraud report, but they can still issue you a replacement refund.