Many taxpayers are eagerly awaiting their refunds as the tax filing deadline approaches, but despite filing early, they may have to wait a little longer than usual to receive their windfall.
President Trump’s Tax and Spending Act launched a series of new tax breaks last year, but some states are still in the process of implementing them or looking to implement them altogether.
As of mid-February – the latest data available from the IRS – 41,892,000 tax returns have been received, 41,362,000 returns have been processed and 28,738,000 returns have been issued.
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Most tax returns are issued within 21 days if you file your return electronically. If you file a paper return, it can double your processing time and delay your return. You may also experience delays if your tax return requires additional review. This can happen for a few different reasons:
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Errors on your tax return: If there are errors or missing fields on your tax return, the IRS will need additional information to be able to process your return and issue your refund.
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You are a victim of identity theft or fraud: If a tax return is filed on your behalf but contains false or suspicious information, it may be a sign that you are a victim of identity theft or fraud, and in these cases, the IRS may stop processing your return and refund.
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Your bank’s payment processing schedule: Or if your refund is issued on the same day your bank may not process the payment.
In any case, the IRS will contact you by email if additional information is needed to process your tax return.
Read more: 5 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund
A number of states are experiencing delays in state tax refunds. These include:
Idaho state officials say refunds could be delayed after budget cuts reduce the number of temporary workers hired during tax season. That can slow processing by 12 to 24 weeks and delay refunds by up to six weeks — costing taxpayers up to $7 million in refund-interest payments.
In addition to a smaller workforce, Idaho’s governor recently signed House Bill 559, a reconciliation bill, to enable taxpayers to claim a new reconciliation deduction. However, this comes as more than 158,000 taxpayers have already filed their 2025 income tax returns.
Some taxpayers have reported issues with Intuit TurboTax software that may contribute to delayed returns. Taxpayers who filed their taxes before the TurboTax software was updated to reflect the last tax break may experience delays in the return process.
Intuit also worked to update software so it could more accurately calculate New York taxes after New Yorkers received an “inflation refund” check last year. The platform said the issue would be resolved by February 4.
The Oregon Department of Revenue states that electronically filed tax documents are processed in the order they are received. However, paper returns will not begin processing until the end of March.
By the end of 2025, the IRS was late in providing the Oregon Department of Revenue with the necessary tax forms and information needed to program the department’s computer system to be able to process paper returns.
As a result, state processing of paper-filed Oregon personal income taxes cannot begin until the end of March. The state says the best way to avoid delays is to file electronically.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued a notice saying that processing 2025 tax returns is taking longer than usual because South Carolina is “currently not in compliance with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).”
Generally, if you file your taxes online and there are no errors on your return, it should only take up to eight weeks to receive your refund. However, due to new federal tax changes, South Carolina residents can expect a delay.
Tax filing in the District of Columbia has been delayed by a legal dispute over whether D.C. should implement new federal tax rules.
Congress voted during the tax season to override the district’s earlier decision not to comply with the new law, and Trump signed the measure in February.
The D.C. Office of Taxation and Revenue posted a notice on its website stating that “electronic and paper versions of 2025 district income tax forms will be suspended; however, taxpayers may continue to file their returns electronically.”
If you have already filed your return, there are several ways to check the status of your return.
You can access your online account with the IRS through My Return or the IRS2Go mobile app. You will need to provide personal identification information, such as your social security number, tax year, and your filing status.
Status tracking should be available within 24 hours after the tax return is filed or up to four weeks after the paper return is mailed.
To track state returns, your state’s Department of Revenue website may offer a similar tracker. Check the Federation of Tax Administrators for more information about your specific state.
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