How to Find Out If My State Received My Tax Return

In most states, taxpayers can verify the receipt of their tax returns by phone or online. To check online, visit your state's department of taxation website. The process of accessing the information by these methods, if available, depends on your state, but be prepared to provide identifying information such as your Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of your state tax refund.

Several factors determine when your state's department of taxation receives your return, such as how and when you filed. It could take 3 days or more for a mailed return to go through the postal system and arrive at the taxation department. E-filing, on the other hand, gets your return to the department instantly. Also, you can expect an extended processing time if you submit your return on or around the state's tax deadline, when the office receives a deluge of returns.

You can find out when to expect your state tax refund with the same system you use to check the receipt of your return. Many states update their systems when refunds are processed and issued. Typically, it takes a longer to receive a refund from a paper return than it does to receive one from an e-filed return. According to the Internal Revenue Service, it could take up to 8 weeks to receive your refund if you mailed your return and up to 3 weeks if you e-filed.

Contact your state's department of taxation if you don't receive information about your return within a reasonable time frame. Call to speak to a taxation department customer service representative if there is still no information in the system 8 weeks after mailing the return.