The amount depends on which state you live in and what year the refund was issued

There is no single federal inflation refund check. Instead, several states created their own refund programs between 2022 and 2024 to return money to residents when inflation pushed tax revenues higher than expected. The amount you received—or may still receive—varies by state and by the specific program. California sent checks ranging from $200 to $1,050 depending on income. Colorado issued $750 per resident. Illinois sent $50 to $100. New Mexico distributed $250 to $500. Each state set its own rules about who got money and how much.

The programs have largely ended. Most states that ran them have already mailed all checks. If you lived in a state that offered one and did not receive your check, the money may still be coming, or it may have been issued as a tax credit on your state return instead of a separate mailed check.

Key Takeaways

  • Inflation refund amounts ranged from $50 in some states to over $1,000 in California, with each state setting its own formula based on income and filing status.
  • Most inflation refund programs have finished mailing checks, though some states issued credits on tax returns instead of separate payments.
  • Your state's tax department website lists the exact amount you should have received and whether your check was mailed or applied as a tax credit.
  • If you did not receive a check that was supposed to be mailed to you, contact your state revenue department with your Social Security number and filing address to trace it.

Which states sent inflation refunds and how much

California ran the largest program. Residents who filed a 2021 state tax return received between $200 and $1,050 depending on income and filing status. Single filers with income under $75,000 received the full amount. The payment decreased for higher earners and phased out entirely above $250,000 for single filers. California mailed most checks in October and November 2022, though some went out into early 2023.

Colorado sent $750 to every resident who filed a 2021 state return, regardless of income. Checks arrived in summer 2022. Illinois issued $50 to $100 depending on filing status to residents who filed a 2021 return. New Mexico sent $250 to $500 based on income brackets to 2021 filers. Oregon distributed $75 to $100 per filer. Montana sent $94 to $120. Delaware issued $110 to $125. Hawaii sent $100 to $300. Kansas distributed $75 to $225. Maryland issued $25 to $50. Minnesota sent $40 to $260. Mississippi distributed $35 to $175. New Jersey sent $500 to $1,000 to lower-income residents. New York issued $125 to $300. Utah sent $100 to $175. Virginia distributed $110 to $250.

Most of these programs have concluded. A few states issued the refund as a credit on your tax return rather than a separate check, which means the money reduced the taxes you owed or increased your refund when you filed.

How to learn about you were supposed to receive a check

Start with your state's tax department website. Search for "inflation refund" or "tax refund" along with your state name. The department will have a page listing the program details, the year it ran, income limits, and the exact amounts by filing status. You can usually find this information under a section called "Tax Relief" or "Recent Programs."

If you filed a state tax return in the year the program covered (usually 2021 or 2022), you likely met the basic requirement. Income limits varied by state—some had no limit at all, while others phased out the refund above certain thresholds. Your filing status (single, married filing jointly, head of household) also affected the amount.

Many state tax departments also let you check the status of a refund check online. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the year you filed. Some states have a "Where's My Refund" tool similar to the federal IRS system. Others require you to call or email the department directly.

What to do if you did not receive your check

If you were supposed to get a check and did not, contact your state revenue or tax department. Have your Social Security number, the year you filed, your filing address at the time, and your filing status ready. The department can tell you whether the check was mailed, when it was sent, and to what address. If it was mailed to an old address, they may be able to reissue it.

If the check was mailed more than 90 days ago and you never received it, the state can investigate. Some departments will issue a replacement check. Others may require you to file a claim or provide proof that you did not receive the original. The process varies by state and can take several weeks.

If your state issued the refund as a tax credit instead of a check, you would have seen it on your tax return for that year. The credit reduced your tax liability or increased your refund. If you did not see it, check your filed return or contact the tax department to confirm whether you were in the income range for that program.

Inflation refunds versus other state tax credits

Inflation refunds were temporary, one-time programs created in response to specific budget surpluses. They are different from permanent tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or child tax credits, which return each year if you meet the requirements. Inflation refunds do not come back annually.

Some states also issued other forms of relief during the same period—property tax credits, utility assistance, or direct payments to seniors. These were separate from inflation refunds and had their own may be able to access rules and amounts. If you received one type of payment, you may have also been sent another. Check your state's tax department website to see all the programs that ran during 2022 and 2023.

Tracking a check that was supposed to arrive by mail

If your state mailed the check but you are not sure when it should have arrived, the tax department website will show the mailing date. Most states mailed inflation refunds in batches over several months. A check mailed in October 2022 should have arrived within two to three weeks under normal mail conditions, though some took longer.

If more than a month has passed since the mailing date and you have not received it, file a trace request with your state tax department. Provide your name, Social Security number, filing address, and the year the check was supposed to be mailed. The department can check whether the check was delivered, returned, or lost in the mail. If it was returned, they will reissue it to your current address. If it was lost, they can send a replacement.

Keep any mail from your state tax department about the refund program. These letters often include a check number, mailing date, and amount. Having this information speeds up a trace request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on an inflation refund check?

No. Inflation refund checks were refunds of your own tax money, not income. You do not report them as income on your federal or state tax return. The IRS and state tax departments do not tax refunds.

Can I still get an inflation refund if I did not file a tax return that year?

Most programs required you to have filed a state tax return in the year they covered. If you did not file, you generally did not receive a refund. Some states allowed people who did not file to submit a claim, but this was rare. Check your state's tax department website to see if a late claim was an option.

What if I moved after I filed my tax return?

If your check was mailed to an old address, contact your state tax department with your current address. They can reissue the check or may be able to trace the original and have it forwarded. Provide both your old and new addresses so they can update their records.

Did federal stimulus payments count as inflation refunds?

No. Federal stimulus payments (like the $1,200 and $600 checks in 2020 and 2021) were separate from state inflation refunds. Inflation refunds were issued by individual states starting in 2022 and were based on state tax filings, not federal payments.

Can I claim an inflation refund check I never received on my taxes?

You cannot claim it as a deduction or credit on your tax return. Instead, contact your state tax department to report that you did not receive it. They can investigate and reissue the check if it was lost or mailed to the wrong address. This is faster than trying to claim it through the tax system.