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

Up to date for tax 12 months 2025.

In most U.S. states, you’ll should file a state tax return. Despite the fact that most of us file our taxes yearly, it’s straightforward to be just a little confused about them. We’re right here to assist! We’ve compiled an inventory of the highest questions on state taxes: what they’re, the right way to file them, the right way to test their standing (you should use our interactive map and browse the desk beneath), and extra.

State earnings tax

• What’s state earnings tax?
  • State earnings taxes are taxes enforced by every state’s authorities.
  • They’re due yearly, often by April 15.
• What states haven’t any earnings tax?
  • Some states wouldn’t have a state particular person earnings tax, so it’s not essential to file a state tax return. These states embrace Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
  • Beforehand, New Hampshire didn’t tax particular person wages however levied a tax on curiosity and dividend earnings. This was eradicated in 2025, including New Hampshire to the listing of states that don’t have a state particular person earnings tax. In distinction, Washington continues to impose a tax on long-term capital positive factors above the state’s annual exemption quantity.
• Which state has the bottom property taxes?
• Which state has the very best property taxes?
• What states don’t tax retirement earnings?
  • A number of states don’t tax Social Safety advantages or pension funds. These embrace Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Iowa, and Wyoming.
• What states have an inheritance tax?
  • There are a number of states with an inheritance tax. As of tax 12 months 2025, these states embrace Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
  • Iowa handed a invoice in 2021 to start phasing out its inheritance tax, which was eradicated in 2025.
• What states wouldn’t have gross sales tax?
  • There are a number of states without a statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska is the one state with no state earnings tax and no state gross sales tax; nevertheless, some localities impose an area gross sales tax. 

Submitting state taxes

• Do I’ve to file state taxes?
  • For those who’re unsure if you must file a tax return, contact your tax skilled or the IRS (1-800-829-1040).
• How do I calculate my state tax refund?
  • Use your W-2 out of your employer to calculate how a lot cash was taken out of your wages for state taxes.
  • Discover out what state tax bracket you’re in.
  • Analysis and issue within the allowances supplied by your state.
  • Take the quantity paid from the state tax bracket you fall beneath and subtract it from the quantity you paid.
  • The rest is your state tax refund.
• How do I file state taxes?
  • You may both fill out your state tax kind by hand and mail it in, or file electronically with an e-filing program or on-line tax preparation software program like TaxAct®. You may as well rent a tax skilled that will help you file your state tax return.
• Can my state tax refund be direct deposited?

State refund standing

• When will I get my state tax refund?
  • The date you obtain your tax refund depends upon a number of components, together with the way in which by which you filed and whenever you submitted your return.
  • For those who despatched a paper tax return by way of the mail, it’s going to take longer to obtain your refund than for those who filed electronically.
  • It’s best to obtain your tax refund sooner by way of direct deposit (21 days or much less) than by way of a paper test, which may take six weeks or extra to be acquired.
• How lengthy does a state refund take?
  • The period of time it takes to obtain your state refund can fluctuate from state to state and depends upon whether or not you submitted a whole and correct return.
• How do I test the standing of my state refund?
  • For those who filed your tax return electronically, you possibly can possible test the standing of your refund on-line or by telephone.
  • For those who despatched your tax return by way of the mail, you could have to attend longer for a standing test. You may additionally name or e mail your state’s Division of Taxation.
  • For those who filed your taxes with TaxAct, you possibly can test the standing of your return at our E-File Status page.
• The place’s my amended state refund?
  • Amended state returns can take for much longer to obtain than amended federal returns.
  • The timeline varies from state to state.
• Why did I not obtain a state tax refund?
  • There are a number of causes chances are you’ll not have acquired your state tax refund, together with:
    • There was an error.
    • You owe previous money owed.
    • You bought taken benefit of by a tax scammer — if the IRS must contact you, they may nearly at all times achieve this by mail. For those who obtain a telephone name or e mail from somebody claiming to be the IRS, don’t give them your data, because it might be a scammer attempting to steal your tax refund. Study extra about what to do for those who’re a sufferer of tax identification theft.
  • Moreover, some states wouldn’t have a state particular person earnings tax, so it’s not essential to file a state tax return. As of 2025, these states embrace Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
• Why is my state refund lower than what I filed?
  • There are a number of causes why your refund might be lower than what you filed:
    • The state tax workplace could recalculate your kind if it notices an issue.
    • State refunds will also be decrease for those who owe unpaid taxes, pupil loans, little one assist, alimony, and so on.
• Do state and federal refunds come collectively?
  • No. You’ll obtain your federal and state refunds at separate instances.

Garnishments

• What’s a state tax lien?
  • If you don’t pay your taxes, the IRS or state can discover different means to fulfill tax money owed. Whereas each phrases fall beneath the identical umbrella, levies and liens have completely different meanings. A lien is a authorized declare towards property to safe cost of a tax debt whereas a levy is the seizure — or garnishment — of property (corresponding to wages, financial institution accounts, retirement accounts, actual property) to satisfy that debt.
• Will a state tax lien have an effect on my federal refund?
  • Sure. Any future federal or state earnings tax refunds on account of you can be seized.
• Who can garnish state tax refunds?
  • State and federal authorities companies can garnish your state tax refunds to pay down sure money owed, however non-public collectors can’t. 

• Can the federal authorities take my state tax refund?
  • Sure. For those who owe previous money owed, your state tax refund might be withheld. 
  • This contains federal pupil loans. Now that federal pupil mortgage collections have resumed as of 2025, debtors who’ve defaulted on their federal pupil loans could have their state refunds withheld after submitting their 2025 tax return.
• Can a hospital take my state refund?
  • Whereas hospitals can’t intercept your state tax refund, they will garnish your wages to repay medical payments.
• Can Social Safety advantages be garnished for state taxes?

Calculating state tax refund with ease

Questioning how a lot you’ll get again in your state tax refund? Simplify the method with a tax calculator.

For those who’re uncertain concerning the advanced calculations or the results of your tax deductions, a tax calculator can simplify the whole lot for you. Simply enter your W-2 data, establish your tax bracket, and account for state allowances with ease. Whether or not you’re submitting electronically or submitting a paper return, understanding the standing of your state tax refund turns into a lot less complicated with the assistance of a dependable tax calculator.

State tax refund desk