Tracking your state tax refund can be a lot harder than your federal tax refund.
If you’re like most Americans, you live in a state that requires you to file a state tax return. Even though you may not have too much trouble filing your state return, getting your state refund can be more of a pain.
Why? Each state follows a unique process for refunds. You may or may not be able to check the status after filing. If you want to find out where your refund is, we have directions for how you may be able to check this, depending on what state you’re in. To check your refund status, submit your personal information such as Social and tax ID.
Many states also require you to know your expected refund amount. This is information that you can easily find using your tax software or in a PDF copy of your state tax return.
How To Check your Federal Tax Refund Status
If you paid U.S. federal income taxes, you can check your refund status through the IRS’s refund tracking site. To check your status provide your Social Security Number, your filing status, the tax year, and the expected refund amount.
It’s relatively easy to check your refund status on a Federal level, and checking the status of your state return is also straightforward. However, each state has separate sites and requirements to check your refund status for the state.
Related: You can see our estimated Federal tax refund calendar here.
How To Check Your State Tax Refund (Find Your State)
Below you’ll see guides to check your refund status in states that have income tax. (Keep in mind that Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax.)
New Hampshire charges income tax on interest and dividend income only. Below we provide step-by-step guidance for checking your refund status in states that have a state income tax.
Expand the table of contents below to jump directly to your state.
Alabama
When checking your tax refund status in Alabama, use the My Alabama Taxes hub. You can check your refund status by selecting the “Check My Refund Status/Where’s My Refund” link in the box on the left side entitled Refunds.
Provide your Social Security Number, the tax year in question, and the expected refund amount which can be found on your tax return.
Arizona
To check your refund status in Arizona, you’ll need your Social Security Number, your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, your zip code at the time of filing), and the return year in question. The state of Arizona maintains a Check Refund Status page.
You don’t need to know the expected value of your refund to check the status. The site maintains all records of tax returns filed after December 31, 2007.
Arkansas
If you want to check the status of your state tax refund in Arkansas, you can find it through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point site. Navigate to the refund check site by clicking the “Where’s My Refund” icon on the bottom left side of the page. Put in your Social Security Number and the estimated refund amount to check the refund status.
California
The Franchise Tax Board of California maintains a Where’s My Refund? page that allows you to check your state refund status. Click the Blue “Check Refund” button to check your status.
To check your refund status, you’ll need your Social Security Number, the numbers in your street address (if you live at 123 Main Street, your number is 123), and your ZIP code. You also need to know the dollar value of your refund.
Colorado
The Revenue Department in Colorado maintains a tool called Revenue Online that allows you to check your refund status. It requires your Social Security Number (or your individual taxpayer identification number) and your tax refund amount.
If you don’t know your tax refund amount, you can use a PIN or Letter ID from Colorado’s Department of Revenue.
Connecticut
If you want to review your refund status in Connecticut, look at the state’s Taxpayer Service Center. To check your status, visit the refund check status site and provide your Social Security Number, your legal last name, and your Adjusted Gross Income on your recent tax return or your Connecticut driver’s license number.
Delaware
When you’re looking for information on your Delaware tax refund, use the Revenue Department’s Refund Inquiry website. Provide your Social Security Number and your refund amount to get status information.
Georgia
Georgia’s Department of Revenue maintains an online tax center that makes it easy to check your state refund status. You’ll need your Social Security Number, your expected refund amount, and the tax year in question.
Once you provide that information, the website will provide details about your refund status.
Hawaii
The Department of Taxation in Hawaii allows you to start checking your refund status 7 to 8 weeks after e-filing or 9 to 10 weeks after filing paper returns. You can check the status by visiting the Department of Taxation’s Refund Status site. Provide your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, and the expected refund amount.
Idaho
Idaho’s State Tax Commission allows you to start checking your refund status through the taxpayer portal. Click the “Where’s My Refund” link in the center of the page to go to the Refund Status site.
To check your refund status enter your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, and the expected refund amount.
Illinois
Illinois’s Department of Revenue maintains a MyTaxIllinois site where taxpayers can handle pertinent tax information. The “Where’s My Refund” hyperlink is on the left-hand side of the page in a box entitled Inquiries for Individuals. To check your refund status, punch in your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number and your requested refund amount.
Indiana
In the state of Indiana, you can use InTime, the Indiana Taxpayer Information Management Engine. Navigate to the “Where’s my Refund?” hyperlink on the right-hand side of the page.
Before you can see your refund status, put in your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number and your requested refund amount. It’s easy to find the expected refund amount on your state tax return.
Iowa
If you’re an Iowa taxpayer, you can track your refund status in real-time through the Department of Revenue’s Refund Tracker. To check on your refund status, provide your Social Security Number, the tax year in question, and the expected refund amount.
You can find your expected refund amount on your state tax return (or inside your tax filing software).
Kansas
To see the status of your income tax refund in Kansas, visit the Kansas Department of Revenue Income and Homestead Refund Status site. The site has two boxes that allow you to enter your Social Security Number and the refund amount you were expecting to receive.
The value of the refund should be rounded to the nearest whole dollar. If you were expecting a refund worth $1234.56, enter $1235. If you were expecting $1234.12, enter $1234.
Kentucky
To check the refund status of the current tax year, you can use Kentucky’s Refund Status website. Provide your Social Security Number and the expected refund amount to check the refund status.
The easiest place to find your expected refund amount is through the tax filing software you used to prepare your tax return.
To check the status of older tax refunds, call 502-564-4581 to speak with a state examiner.
Louisiana
Use the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point to check your Louisiana Tax Refund Status. To track your refund select the “Where’s my Refund” hyperlink on the bottom left side of the site.
To see your refund status, provide your Social Security Number, the tax year in question, your filing status (the year in question), and the expected refund amount.
Louisiana warns that you can expect to wait 45 days for the state to process your refund if you filed electronically or 14 weeks if you mailed in a return.
Maine
Maine’s Revenue Service allows you to check your refund status through an online portal. Give your Social Security Number, the Filing Status on your tax return, and the expected refund amount in whole dollars (just drop the decimals, do not round).
If you were expecting a refund worth $1,234.98 or $1,234.12, enter $1,234.
Typically, you can easily find your expected refund amount through the tax filing software you used to prepare your tax return.
Maryland
The Comptroller of Maryland gives you access to check your current year refund status through its Online Tax Services portal. To check your refund status, provide your Social Security Number and the exact amount of your expected refund. You can find your expected refund amount on your tax return (which may be stored in your tax filing software).
Massachusetts
To check your state tax refund status in Massachusetts, visit Mass Tax Connect. In the box entitled “Individuals” (center of the page), click the hyperlink entitled “Where’s My Refund?”
The link leads to a site where you can check your refund status from 2018 through the present. Enter the tax year in question, your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, and the expected refund amount.
Michigan
When you need to know about your tax refund status from Michigan, check out the state’s Individual Income Tax homepage. The page has a “Where’s My Refund” hyperlink in the lower left corner of the site.
From the Where’s My Refund page, enter your Social Security Number, the Primary filer’s last name, the tax year, your Adjusted Gross Income or Total Household Resources for the year, and your filing status that year. The site uses that information to look up your refund status.
Minnesota
The state of Minnesota’s refund checking website makes it easy to check your refund status from 2018 to the present. From the link provided, click the “Where’s My Refund? system” hyperlink at the top of the page. Then enter your Social Security Number (or individual tax identification number), the tax year, your birth date, the tax return type, and the expected return amount.
Mississippi
If you need to check your tax refund status in Mississippi, visit the Department of Revenue’s Tax Access Point. From that site, you’ll see the Refunds section on the right-hand side of the site.
Click the “Where’s my refund?” link from the Refunds section to visit the refund tracking site. You’ll need a Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or a Federal Employer ID and your expected refund amount to check your status.
Missouri
Missouri’s Return Inquiry System allows you to track returns and refunds from 2018 through the present. To get started click the large Get Started button on the top of the page.
Then provide your Social Security Number, your filing status for the year in question, the amount of your anticipated return, and the filing year you’re interested in.
Montana
Montana’s TransAction Portal is a website that gives you access to all sorts of tax-related information.
To check your refund status, click the “Where’s My Refund?” link in the box entitled Individuals in the center of the page. Enter your Social Security Number and expected refund amount to see the status of your refund.
Nebraska
Nebraska’s Department of Revenue allows you to check your refund status through its individual tax portal. Enter your Social Security Number and expected refund amount to see the status of your refund.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire doesn’t charge an income tax on employment income, but it charges a flat tax on interest and dividend income.
If you overpaid your tax on this type of income, you can request a refund through the state’s Department of Revenue Administration. However, the state does not provide a refund tracking option.
New Jersey
You can check on your tax refund status in New Jersey by visiting the state’s Individual Income Tax Online Refund Status Service. Specify your Social Security Number, the expected refund amount, and the year in question. Currently, the site tracks refunds from 2020 through the present.
If you want to track down the expected refund amount from a previous year, look at your tax return from that year, or look it up in the tax software you used to file your taxes.
New Mexico
New Mexico’s Taxpayer Access Point is a centralized hub for most individual tax information. There’s a link labeled “Where’s My Refund” in a box entitled Personal Income on the right of the screen. That link brings you to the refund status tracker.
To see your refund status, provide your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and your expected refund amount. You can find your expected refund amount on your tax return or through the tax filing software you used to prepare your return.
New York
New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance makes it easy to check your refund status online. Simply visit the refund status website and select “Check Refund Status.”
To check your status, supply the tax year in question, your Social Security Number, the tax form you filed, and your estimated refund amount. Right now, New York allows you to check on refunds from 2018 through the present.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Revenue keeps you updated about delays and allows you to check your personal refund status through its “Where’s My Refund?” site. To track your refund status, select the dark blue “Where’s My Refund?” button.
If you’re checking for the current year, provide your Social Security Number and the expected refund amount. For prior year returns, wait at least five months after filing and then call 877-252-3052.
North Dakota
North Dakota’s Taxpayer Access Point provides easy access if you want to track your tax refund status. You can currently check on refunds from 2020 through the present. To check the status, you must provide the tax year, the expected refund amount, and your Social Security Number.
Ohio
If you overpaid your taxes in Ohio, you can check on your refund status through the Department of Taxations Online Services.
Provide your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and type of tax return. You can only check your refund status for the current year through Ohio’s Online Services. To speak with a representative about prior year refunds, you can call 800-282-1780.
Oklahoma
If you’re an Oklahoma taxpayer, you can manage your state tax information through Oklahoma’s Tax Access Point. This includes checking your tax refund status. To check your refund select the “Where’s My Refund” link in the box titled Individuals.
Provide the last 7 digits of your Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, your expected refund amount, and the ZIP code from your tax return. You can only check your returns for the previous year through the online portal.
Oregon
Oregon’s Revenue Online system allows you to check your refund status through a site that’s updated daily. From the home page, you’ll select the “Where’s my refund?” link which is in a box entitled Revenue Online on the right side of the page.
Provide either a Social Security Number, an Individual Tax Identification Number, or a Federal Employer ID Number to check your refund status. Supply the expected refund amount.
Pennsylvania
Looking for your state tax refund in Pennsylvania? You can use the Department of Revenue’s tracking site to check the status of your individual tax refund. To see the status, supply your Social Security Number and the amount of your refund. You can find the amount of your refund from your tax return.
Rhode Island
To check your state tax refund status in Rhode Island, visit the state’s tax refund status site.
Before you can see the status, enter your Social Security Number, your filing status, and your expected refund status rounded to the whole dollar.
If your expected refund ends in $0.50 to $0.99 round up, otherwise round down. For example, if you expect a $1234.56 refund, you would enter $1,235.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Revenue maintains a tax portal called MyDORWAY. The site gives users access to all types of tax-related links including a refund tracking site.
To check your refund status select “Where’s my refund?” from the box titled Payments & Refunds. Select Individual as the tax return type and supply your Social Security Number and expected refund amount.
Tennessee
Tennessee no longer charges a state income tax, so it no longer has a refund status tracking option. To request a refund from old overpayments, fill out this paper form and mail it to: Tennessee Department of Revenue, 12th Floor Audit Division, 500 Deaderick Street Nashville, TN 37242
Utah
Utah’s taxpayer access point is the best place to check the status. By selecting the “Check your refund status” link in the box entitled Refunds, you’ll arrive at a refund tracking site.
Provide your refund type, your taxpayer ID (either Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer ID Number), and your refund amount or your Federal Adjusted Gross Income from your most recent return.
Vermont
The myVTax site is a hub for all state tax-related questions. You can check the status of your return (and your refund) by selecting the “Check the Status of your Return” link in the box entitled Returns.
Then provide the return type (Personal Income Tax Return or something else). Finally, you’ll provide your taxpayer ID (either Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer ID Number), your last name, the ZIP code on your tax return, and the refund amount.
Virginia
On the lookout for your refund in Virginia? Look no further than the state’s refund tracking tool. Select the “Where’s my Refund tool” link from the home page.
Enter your Social Security Number, the tax year, and the expected refund amount. You also have to supply information on how you filed (e-filing or filing on paper). Virginia allows you to check on refunds from 2019 through the present.
If you prefer an alternative to the online site, you can call 804-367-2486 for an automated message about your refund status.
Washington, D.C.
MyTax DC is a hub for all DC residents to manage their taxes. If you want to check on your tax refund status, select the “Check the Status of My Refund” link in the box entitled Individual.
Provide your Social Security Number, the tax year in question, and the expected refund amount. Washington, D.C. allows you to track refunds from 2019 through the present.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s State Tax Department allows you to check on your refund through its MyTaxes site. You’ll select the “Search for a Refund” link from the box titled Where’s My Refund?
Provide your Social Security Number, the tax year in question, and the expected refund amount. West Virginia allows you to track refunds from 2017 through the present.
Wisconsin
Checking the status of your return in Wisconsin is as easy as 1-2-3. The state’s Refund 123 site gives you easy access to your tax refund status. Provide your Social Security Number or Individual Tax ID Number, the tax year in question, and the refund claimed (rounded to the nearest whole dollar).
Wisconsin allows you to track refunds from 2019 through the present.
What to Do If You Need the Money From Your State Tax Refund
Unfortunately, you can’t pester your state’s revenue department into issuing your refund sooner, even if you need the money. There really isn’t much you can do to get the money in your hands faster.
Rather than fret about the refund that is slow to reach you, consider alternative ways to increase your income. If you made any student loan payments in the last 24 months, you may qualify for a refund of your student loans. You can also earn money quickly through selling valuables or side hustling.
For next tax season, consider adjusting your state tax withholdings, so you keep more of your paycheck each month. That way you’ll have more money each time you get paid and you won’t be waiting on such a large refund in the future.
Hannah is a wife, mom, and described personal finance geek. She excels with spreadsheets (and puns)! She regularly explores in-depth financial topics and enjoys looking at the latest tools and trends with money.
Editor: Ashley Barnett Reviewed by: Robert Farrington