Refund FAQs

When it comes to Arizona income tax refunds, processing times vary and depend on how taxpayers file (e-file or paper) and the date the return was filed. Individuals waiting for refunds can check their status by visiting Where’s My Refund on AZTaxes.gov.

We issue most refunds in less than 8 weeks.

However, refunds that require review and investigation take more time.

Several factors can affect the timing of your refund. Even though ADOR issues most refunds in fewer than 8 weeks, it’s possible your refund may take longer. Also, remember to take into consideration the time it takes for your financial institution to post the refund to your account or for you to receive it by mail. In the future, if you need your money fast then we recommend electronic filing and selecting direct deposit.

First, the fastest way to receive your refund is to electronically file and choose direct deposit. ADOR partners with the Free File Alliance to provide free tax software options to taxpayers that meet the criteria. The IRS Direct File Pilot Program allows eligible taxpayers to file electronically for free, providing a service that integrates state tax filing with IRS Direct File, a major step in creating a seamless federal-state system. Additionally, there are volunteer organizations that offer free tax preparation service to the elderly and other individual taxpayers that need to file their income tax electronically. If this is not an option choose ADOR fillable forms and follow these tips:

• Avoid sending in handwritten returns as this requires ADOR staff to interpret your handwriting, which increases the possibility of errors.
• Include all pages with your return.
• Enter the complete social security number (XXX-XX-XXXX) on all pages.
• Mail to the correct PO Box listed on the bottom of the form depending on if you are expecting a refund or have tax due. 
• Use the tax year form for the tax year you are filing for, and do not modify the tax form or include an alternative tax form.

Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return:

• Includes calculation errors.
• Is incomplete or illegible handwriting.
• Needs further review in general.
• Is affected by identity theft or fraud.
• High volumes of returns.

We will contact you by mail when (or if) we need more information to process your return. If ADOR is still processing your return or correcting an error, Where’s My Refund? will be able to provide you with the latest information.

No. Where’s My Refund? has the latest information, unless the system directs you to call us, our Customer Care team will not be able to provide any additional information.

Our Customer Care team are not able to give you a specific refund date.

Yes. Where’s My Refund? can only be used for tax returns filed after December 31, 2007.

Twenty-four hours after we have received your electronically filed tax return or 4 weeks after you have mailed a paper tax return.

Where’s My Refund? will give you a personalized date after we process your return and approve your refund.

Where’s My Refund? follows your tax return from receipt to completion. It will tell you when your return is in received status and if your refund is in approved or sent status. 

E-file taxpayers receive an acknowledgement of receipt from both the IRS and ADOR via the tax software service, so you will know the returns have been received and accepted.

We have your tax return and are processing it.

We have processed your return. We are preparing to send your refund to your bank or directly to you in the mail. This status will tell you when we will send the refund to your bank (if you selected the direct deposit option). Please wait 5 days after we’ve sent the refund to check with your bank about your refund, since banks vary in how and when they credit funds. (It could take several weeks before you receive a mailed refund check.)

Several elements can affect the timing of your tax refund; time within tax season; errors, or possible fraud. ADOR works as quickly as possible to send your refund.

No, not always. Sometimes, when we are still reviewing your return, instead, it will display instructions or an explanation of what we are doing.

The update frequency can be immediate to weekly depending on the status of your return.

No. Do not resubmit return. Please allow 8-10 weeks to process your return. 

No, it won’t give you information about amended tax returns. Please allow your original return to process before submitting your amended return. Our Customer Care team can only research the status of your amended return 16 weeks or more after you have mailed it.

The Department of Revenue will always try to process a refund in the method requested by a taxpayer in an expedited fashion. There are times however, when the agency will need to process a refund in the form of a paper check. 

 Reasons include the following:

• The tax return was flagged for possible identity theft. We have seen an increase in fraud and identity theft over the past several years. This preventative measure is an effort to protect your refund.
• Errors were detected in the tax return requiring correcting.
• The refund required adjusting due to a required offset.
• The taxpayer’s financial institution may not accept direct deposit.
• There was a typo in the bank information on the original tax return.
• The injured spouse filing box was checked on Form 140.

Depending on when your bank processes deposits determines when you will see the deposit into your account. 

 Also, if you used a tax preparation service and selected them to receive the money, their deposit service will send you the funds, delaying the final deposit date. 

All or part of your refund may have been used (offset) to pay outstanding liabilities with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), courts, state agencies, or government municipalities.

Those individuals who receive notice can contact the agency listed on the ADOR Offset letter if they have any questions about the claim or offset. 

We also may have changed your refund amount because we made changes to your tax return. ADOR will send a notice explaining the changes.

Please do not cash the refund check or spend the direct deposit refund. Send the refund back to us.

If you mailed your tax payment, please allow 8-10 weeks for processing. Ensure you provide your taxpayer identification number, tax type, and tax period on the check. In some circumstances, the check address and taxpayer name does not match a tax return on file. Processing must research thus delaying the process to account for the payment. In the future, you can make electronic payments at AZTaxes.gov and schedule the payment date for a future date.