Why Is My Tax Refund Delayed?
From Tax Guide.
Tax Guide · Arab, Alabama
How to Check Your Tax Refund Status
Where is my refund? How to check your federal refund with the IRS and your Alabama refund through My Alabama Taxes, and what you need to look it up.
The short answer
Where is my tax refund and how do I check it?
Your federal refund is checked with the IRS, your Alabama refund is checked with the Alabama Department of Revenue, and they are two separate systems.
If you filed both a federal and an Alabama return, you have two refunds to look for, and each agency processes yours on its own schedule. One can arrive well before the other, so a late state refund does not mean the federal return has a problem, and the reverse is true as well.
Our My Alabama page gathers the links for both in one place, so you do not have to hunt for the right website.
Federal
How do I check my IRS refund status?
Use the IRS online refund tool, called Where's My Refund, and have your Social Security number, your filing status and the exact refund amount from your return ready.
The tool shows where your return is in the process: received, approved or sent. The IRS updates it on its own schedule, and checking many times a day will not speed anything up. If the tool says to contact the IRS, or you see a message you do not understand, see why your refund may be delayed.
Watch for scams. The IRS first contacts people by mail, and it does not ask for your refund details through unexpected texts or emails. Only enter your information on the official irs.gov site.
- Your Social Security or taxpayer identification number
- Your filing status
- The exact refund amount shown on your return
- Your tax preparer can also tell you how you filed
Alabama
How do I check my Alabama state refund?
Check your Alabama refund through My Alabama Taxes, the Department of Revenue's online service for refunds, bills and letters.
The site lets you look up the status of an Alabama refund, and you will generally need to give identifying details from your return. The state may take longer if a return needs review, or if you owe another debt that the state can collect from your refund. Read about refund offsets and past-due debts if your refund is smaller than expected.
If the state needs something from you, it usually sends a letter. Do not ignore mail from the Department of Revenue. Keep a copy and call us with questions.
Timing
How long does a tax refund take?
The timing depends on how you filed, whether you chose direct deposit and whether your return needs extra review.
Electronic filing with direct deposit is generally the quickest path, and paper returns take noticeably longer. Refunds that include the earned income credit are held until a date set by law, so they arrive later; see the earned income credit guide. Errors, missing information and identity checks can add more time.
We do not promise a refund date, because both agencies control the timing. What we can do is prepare the return carefully so it is less likely to be slowed down.
| Situation | What to expect |
|---|---|
| E-filed with direct deposit | Usually the shorter path, no date is promised |
| Paper return | Generally takes longer to process |
| Return claims the earned income credit | Held until a date set by law |
| Return needs review | Can add time; watch for a letter |
General patterns, no date is promised.
How we can help
Questions about your refund? Call Melton Tax Services
Melton Tax Services prepares individual and family income tax returns and can help you understand where your refund stands.
Our income tax preparation service covers your federal and Alabama returns. If your refund looks wrong or a letter has arrived, call 256-586-4635 or use our contact page. We serve Arab and the surrounding area.
Answers
Questions about check refund status
When can I start checking my refund status?
The IRS tool generally shows information after it has received and accepted your return. Your preparer can tell you when the return was accepted.
Why does the tool say my return is still being processed?
It means the IRS has not finished with it. Many returns take longer for routine reasons, and only a letter or a message to contact the IRS signals a need for action.
Is my Alabama refund tied to my federal refund?
No. They are separate returns handled by separate agencies, so each one has its own timing.
Can I check my refund by phone?
The agencies offer phone options, but wait times can be long. The online tools are usually faster, and you can also call us with questions.
What if I received a smaller refund than I expected?
The agency normally explains the change in a letter. Common reasons include a correction to the return or a debt taken from the refund. Keep the letter and call us.
Read next
Related reading
Earned Income Credit (EITC): How It Works
From Tax Guide.
Why Was My Tax Refund Taken? Refund Offsets Explained
From Tax Guide.
How to File Taxes in Alabama
From Tax Guide.
My Alabama Taxes: Refunds, Accounts and Bills
More on this website.
Melton Tax Services
Questions about your taxes or your business?
Our team in Arab is just a phone call away, and we are glad to talk it through with you.