Like the hit song by Raye, “Where’s my Husband?” taxpayers in California are singing a more kitchen-table tune and asking the government where their refund is, just days after the state and federal tax deadlines passed earlier this week.
Unlike searching for a life partner, it turns out that locating money owed to you by the government is not that difficult.
Both the IRS and the State of California Franchise Tax Board have an official refund tracker on their respective websites where you can check your refund status.
How to check your state refund status in California
The state of California understands tickets to summer music festivals are not going to buy themselves, and has made it easy for taxpayers to locate their hard-earned money.
The State of California Franchise Tax Board website has a refund tracker where you can track your refund status.
All you need is your Social Security number, ZIP code, refund amount, and mailing address.
As for how long it will take to receive your refund, the Franchise Tax Board notes that for e-filers, the wait is up to 3 weeks, while for paper filers, it is up to 3 months.
For some taxpayers whose returns need “extra review,” the website notes that “extra processing time may be necessary.”
How to check your federal tax return refund status
The IRS has a refund tracker on its website. Taxpayers can create an IRS account to check their refund status, view their tax records, and review any refund amendments.
Or you can check your refund status without creating an account. If you go this route, all you need is your social security number or ITIN, the tax year for which you are looking, filing status, and refund amount.
The IRS notes that taxpayers can also check their refund status via their mobile app or by calling an automated hotline at 800-829-1954.
Like with the State of California, how long it takes to get your refund depends on how you filed your return.
If you did an e-file, your refund could take up to 3 weeks from the date you filed. If it is a mailed return, it can take six or more weeks from the date the IRS received your federal income tax return.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Where’s my money? How to check your tax refund in California.
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
