I am still waiting for the second tax refund the IRS owes me after I filed an amended tax return for 2008. Additionally, the State of New Jersey decided to count my business income twice after I filed an amended tax return, so that refund has been delayed as well. The first tax refunds after filing amended returns for 2007 were delivered much more quickly. I’d like to receive these 2008 refunds sooner than later.
Last month, I decided to check the status of my federal tax refund. If you’re looking for your federal refund from a typical tax return, not an amended return, this is usually a simple task. The IRS maintains a website linked to a database containing the refund information for every taxpayer who filed a return.
All you need to provide is your Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), your filing status, and you expected refund amount. If you, like me, are waiting for a refund for an amended return, you cannot use this online tool. Here’s what the IRS advises:
Information regarding refunds for Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return is not available. Amended/corrected returns are processed as quickly as possible. However, it may take 8 to 12 weeks or longer to process the return. If 8 weeks have elapsed and you have not received your refund, call (800) 829-1040.
That takes care of your federal tax refund. Almost all states that have an income tax also have a web-based form for checking the refund status. To my dismay, my state of New Jersey is one that does not have a way to check your refund status online.
Here are all of the state “where’s my refund” websites, as well as phone numbers for those who would prefer to talk to a representative.
Note: I looked at each state’s revenue department to find these links and phone numbers. If you believe any information is incorrect, please let me know.
| State | Online Status | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| AL | Dept. of Revenue | 800-558-3912 |
| AK | Alaska does not have a personal income tax | |
| AZ | Dept. of Revenue | 602-255-3381 |
| AR | Dept. of Finance and Admin. | 501-324-9057 |
| CA | Franchise Tax Board | 800-852-5711 |
| CO | Dept. of Revenue | 303-238-3278 |
| CT | Dept. of Revenue | 860-297-5962 |
| DE | Dept. of Revenue | 302-577-8784 |
| FL | Dept. of Revenue | 850-488-8937 |
| GA | Dept. of Revenue | 877-423-6711 |
| HI | Dept. of Taxation | 808-587-4242 |
| ID | Tax Commission | 208-334-7660 |
| IL | Dept. of Revenue | 800-732-8866 |
| IN | Dept. of Revenue | 317-232-2240 |
| IA | Dept. of Revenue | 515-281-4966 |
| KS | Dept. of Revenue | 800-894-0318 |
| KY | Dept. of Revenue | 502-564-1600 |
| LA | Dept. of Revenue | 225-219-0102 |
| ME | Revenue Services | 207-626-8475 |
| MD | Comptroller | 800-218-8160 |
| MA | Dept. of Revenue | 800-392-6089 |
| MI | Dept. of Treasury | 517-373-3200 |
| MN | Revenue | 651-296-3781 |
| MS | Tax Commission | 601-923-7801 |
| MO | Dept. of Revenue | 573-526-8299 |
| MT | Dept. of Revenue | 866-859-2254 |
| NE | Dept. of Revenue | 800-742-7474 |
| NV | Nevada does not have a personal income tax | |
| NH | New Hampshire does not have a personal income tax | |
| NJ | Not available online | 800-323-4400 |
| NM | Taxation and Revenue | 505-476-3778 |
| NY | Dept. of Taxation and Finance | 518-457-5149 |
| NC | Dept. of Revenue | 877-252-4052 |
| ND | Office of State Tax Commissioner | 701-328-2770 |
| OH | Dept. of Taxation Services | 800-282-1780 |
| OK | Not available online | 405-521-3160 |
| OR | Dept. of Revenue | 503-378-4988 |
| PA | Dept. of Revenue Services | 717-787-8201 |
| RI | Division of Taxation | 401-574-8941 |
| SC | Dept. of Revenue | 6 location-based numbers |
| SD | South Dakota does not have a personal income tax | |
| TN | Tennessee does not have a personal income tax | |
| TX | Texas does not have a personal income tax | |
| UT | Tax Commission | 801-297-2200 |
| VT | Dept. of Taxes | 802-828-0145 |
| VA | Dept. of Taxation | 804-367-2486 |
| WA | Washington does not have a personal income tax | |
| WV | Dept. of Revenue | 304-558-3333 |
| WI | Dept. of Revenue | 866-947-7363 |
| WY | Wyoming does not have a personal income tax | |
Good luck receiving your refund!
Updated April 25, 2012 and originally published March 22, 2010. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s pretty ridiculous that NJ doesn’t let you check the status of your refund — however, I always get my state tax refund back in record time.
NJ messed up my amended 2008 return, thinking I now owe rather than am owed a refund. So I’m waiting for that to be sorted out.
Thanks for this comprehensive list. I would hope more states would have online ways to do this in the future.
Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/revenueonline/_/
Did the author actually check the numbers? The NYS number does not give you a human