How to Check Your State Refund? Tips for Easy Tracking

Introduction

A state refund is money returned from the state government after an individual or business has paid too much in taxes. If you are expecting a state refund, it can be helpful to know how to check its status. This article will provide an overview of the process of checking your state refund and several tips to help you track your refund.

Check Your State Refund Status Online

One of the easiest ways to check your state refund is to use online resources. Most states have websites that allow taxpayers to check the status of their refund. These websites are usually available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can check your refund at any time. Additionally, many of these websites allow taxpayers to sign up for email notifications when their refund has been processed. Here are the steps to check your state refund status online:

• Visit the website of your state’s department of revenue.
• Create an account if necessary.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the page where you can check the status of your refund.
• Enter the required information, such as your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
• Review the status of your refund.

Using online resources can save you time and make it easier to track your state refund. According to a survey conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 70% of taxpayers said that they prefer to use online resources to check the status of their refunds.

Contact the State Tax Department

If you cannot find the information you need online, another option is to contact the state tax department. You can call the department’s customer service line or visit one of their offices. The customer service representatives should be able to provide you with the information you need about your state refund. Here are the steps to contact the state tax department:

• Find the contact information for your state’s tax department.
• Call the customer service line or visit one of their offices.
• Provide the customer service representative with the required information, such as your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
• Ask the customer service representative about the status of your refund.
• Write down the information provided by the representative.

Talking to a customer service representative can be beneficial because they may be able to provide you with additional information about your refund that you cannot find online. Additionally, if your refund has not been processed yet, the representative may be able to provide you with an estimated processing date.

Use a Refund Tracker App

Another option is to use a refund tracker app. These apps are available for both Android and iOS devices and allow taxpayers to track their refunds on the go. Many of these apps are free and provide users with real-time updates on the status of their refunds. Here are the steps to use a refund tracker app:

• Download the refund tracker app.
• Open the app and enter the required information, such as your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
• Review the status of your refund.
• Enable push notifications if available.
• Check the app periodically for updates.

Using a refund tracker app can be convenient because you can track your refund wherever you go. Additionally, with push notifications enabled, you will be notified when your refund has been processed. According to a study conducted by the National Retail Federation, 68% of taxpayers said that they prefer to use a refund tracker app to track their refunds.

Check Your Bank Account

If you are expecting a direct deposit refund, you can also check your bank account to see if the money has been deposited. Most banks offer mobile banking services and allow customers to check their accounts on the go. Here are the steps to check your bank account:

• Open the mobile banking app on your smartphone or tablet.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the page where you can view your account balance.
• Review the balance of your account.
• Check for any recent deposits from the state.

Checking your bank account can be a useful way to see if your refund has been processed. If you do not see the money in your account, you can contact your bank to ask about the status of the deposit.

Track Your State Refund Through Your Tax Preparer

If you used a tax preparer to file your state taxes, you can also track your refund through them. Many tax preparers offer online tracking services and allow taxpayers to view the status of their refund. Here are the steps to track your state refund through your tax preparer:

• Visit the website of your tax preparer.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the page where you can view the status of your refund.
• Enter the required information, such as your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
• Review the status of your refund.

Tracking your refund through your tax preparer can be beneficial because they may be able to provide you with additional information about your refund. Additionally, some tax preparers may offer additional services, such as setting up payment plans or filing amended returns.

Check Your Mailbox for Notification

If you are expecting a paper check as your state refund, you can check your mailbox for notification. Many states send out a notification letter when they issue a refund. This letter will provide you with information about the amount of your refund and when it was issued. Here are the steps to check your mailbox for notification:

• Check your mailbox every day.
• Look for a notification letter from the state.
• Open the letter and review the information provided.
• Write down the information provided in the letter.

Checking your mailbox can be helpful if you are expecting a paper check as your refund. According to a survey conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 45% of taxpayers said that they prefer to check their mailbox for notification about their refunds.

Monitor Your Credit Card or Debit Card Transactions

If you are expecting a refund that is being applied to your credit card or debit card, you can monitor your transactions to see if the money has been deposited. Most banks offer mobile banking services and allow customers to view their transaction histories on the go. Here are the steps to monitor your credit card or debit card transactions:

• Open the mobile banking app on your smartphone or tablet.
• Log in to your account.
• Navigate to the page where you can view your transaction history.
• Review the list of recent transactions.
• Look for any deposits from the state.

Monitoring your credit card or debit card transactions can be useful if you are expecting a refund that is being applied to your card. If you do not see the money in your account, you can contact your bank to ask about the status of the deposit.

Conclusion

Checking the status of your state refund can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By using online resources, contacting the state tax department, using a refund tracker app, checking your bank account, tracking your refund through your tax preparer, checking your mailbox for notification, and monitoring your credit card or debit card transactions, you can easily track your state refund.