When will I get my California and federal tax refund? Here’s the earliest cash could come
If the only thing getting you through tax season is the excitement about your tax refund, here’s when you can expect it.
California’s Franchise Tax Board began accepting returns on Jan. 2. The IRS will start accepting 2023 income tax returns on Jan. 29.
You have to file your federal tax return by April 15. You also need to file your state return by April 15, but California grants an automatic extension to Oct. 15.
But you have to pay any owed taxes to the state and IRS by April 15 no matter when you file.
“The FTB recommends taxpayers gather their tax records ahead of time to help facilitate a smoother tax filing process,” said State Controller and FTB Chair Malia M. Cohen in a news release. “I encourage Californians to take advantage of the FTB’s online services, including filing their taxes electronically and choosing direct deposit to a bank account for a quicker refund.”
When will you get a refund?
If you file electronically through the FTB and IRS, you should get a refund in 21 calendar days. You’ll also need to request to receive the fund via direct deposit and not have any errors or issues on it.
If you file a paper return in California, it could take up to three months to get your refund.
For federal taxes: If you file an amended return or send it in by mail, it could take four weeks or longer.
How to check your tax refund status
Both the state and IRS offer a way for you to check the status of your refund.
To check your refund status through the FTB, you’ll need your Social Security number, ZIP code, exact refund amount and the numbers in your mailing address. For example, if your address is 1234 Main St., the numbers would be 1234. Last year, the FTB received 5.4 million requests from taxpayers to check their refunds, according to a news release.
You can check your refund status through the IRS tool Where’s My Refund? It will appear around 24 hours after you file a current-year return electronically. You’ll need your Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status, and the exact amount on your return. You can also use the IRS2Go app.
If you’re expecting a refund that includes an earned income tax credit or an additional child tax credit, the IRS can’t issue those until mid-February.
What is The Sum?
The Sum is your friendly guide to personal finance and economic news.
We’re a team of McClatchy journalists cutting through the financial jargon so you know how these issues impact your life. We verify information from diverse sources and keep the facts front-and-center, making finance and economic news add up for you.
Ready to take the first step to getting your finances under control? You can sign up for our five-week budgeting newsletter at thesum.news.
This story was originally published January 19, 2024 at 10:26 AM with the headline "When will I get my California and federal tax refund? Here’s the earliest cash could come."
