Where’s My State Refund? Track Your Refund in Every State

In most U.S. states, you’ll have to file a state tax return. Even though most of us file our taxes every year, it’s easy to be a little confused about them. We’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of the top questions about state taxes: what they are, how to file them, how to check their status (you can use our interactive map and browse the table below), and more.

State Income Tax

• What is state income tax?

  • State income taxes are taxes enforced by each state’s government.
  • They are due every year, usually by April 15th.

• What states have no income tax?

  • Some states do not have a state individual income tax, so it’s not necessary to file a state tax return. These states include Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
    

• Which state has the lowest property taxes?

  • Louisiana has the lowest median property taxes.  

• Which state has the highest property taxes?

  • New Jersey has the highest median property taxes.
    

• What states do not tax retirement income?

  • Several states do not tax Social Security benefits or pension payments. These include Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
    

• What states have an inheritance tax?

  • There are several states with an inheritance tax. These states include Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

• What states do not have sales tax?

  • There are seven states without a sales tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Alaska is the only state with no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Filing State Taxes

• Do I have to file state taxes?

  • If you’re not sure if you need to file a tax return, call your tax professional or the IRS (1-800-829-1040).
    

• How do I calculate my state tax refund?

  • Use your W-2s from your employers to calculate how much money was taken out of your wages for state taxes.
  • Then find out what tax bracket you’re in.
  • Research and factor in the allowances offered by your state.
  • Then take the amount paid from the state tax bracket you fall under and subtract it from the amount you paid.
  • The remainder is your state tax refund status.
    

• How do I file state taxes?

  • You can either fill out your state tax form by hand and mail it in, or file electronically with an e-filing program or online tax preparation software. You can also hire a tax professional to help you file your state tax return.

• Can my state tax refund be direct deposited?

  • Yes. You can receive your state tax refund via direct deposit.

State Refund Status

• When will I get my state tax refund?

  • The date you receive your tax refund depends on several factors, including the way in which you filed and when you submitted your return.
  • If you sent a paper tax return through the mail, it will take longer to receive your refund than if you filed electronically.
    

• How long does a state refund take?

  • The amount of time it takes to receive your state refund can vary state by state and whether or not you submitted a complete and accurate return.
    

• How do I check the status of my state refund?

  • If you filed your return electronically, you can likely check the status of your refund online or by phone.
  • If you sent your return through the mail, you may have to wait longer for a status check. You may also call or email your state’s department of taxation.
  • If you filed your taxes with TaxAct, you can check the status of your return at our E-File Status page.

• Where’s my amended state refund?

  • Amended state returns can take much longer to receive than amended federal returns.
  • The timeline varies state to state.
    

• Why did I not receive a state tax refund?

  • There are several reasons you did not receive your state tax refund including:
    • There was an error
    • You owe past debts
    • You got taken advantage of by a tax scammer
  • Additionally, some states do not have a state individual income tax, so it’s not necessary to file a state tax return. These states include Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
    

• Why is my state refund less than what I filed?

  • There are several reasons why your refund can be less than what you filed.
  • The state tax office may recalculate your form if they notice a problem.
  • State refunds can also be lower if you owe on unpaid taxes, student loans, child support, alimony, etc.

• Do state and federal refunds come together?

  • No. You will receive your federal and state refunds at separate times.

Garnishments

• What is a state tax lien?

  • If you do not pay your taxes, the IRS or state can find other means to satisfy tax debts. While both terms fall under the same umbrella, levies and liens have different meanings. A lien is a legal claim against property to secure payment of a tax debt while a levy is the seizure—or garnishment—of property (such as wages, bank accounts, retirement accounts, real estate) to fulfill that debt.
    

• Will a state tax lien affect my federal refund?

  • Yes. Any future federal or state income tax refunds due to you can be seized.

• Who can garnish state tax refunds?

  • State and federal government agencies can garnish your state tax refunds in order to pay down a debt. Individual or private creditors may not take your refund.

• Can the federal government take my state tax refund?

  • Yes. If you owe past debts, your state tax refund can be withheld.

• Can Social Security benefits be garnished for state taxes?

  • The IRS may levy a percentage of your Social Security benefits to pay a tax debt.

• Can a hospital take my state refund?

  • While hospitals cannot intercept your state tax refund, they can garnish your wages to pay off medical bills.
    

State Tax Refund Table

More to explore:

• Self-Employed? Here are 5 Things to Do With Your Tax Refund That Will Help Your Business
• Why Your Tax Refund Could Be Lower Than Expected
• How to Check Your Refund Status
• Deductions vs. Credits: How Do They Affect My Refund?
• Where’s My Refund? Step-by-Step Timeline of your Tax Refund