When will I get my tax refund? Here’s what Californians should do if they want it soon

Tax refunds started going out at the beginning of February, and if you haven’t already filed, you can still get yours soon.

More than 18 million tax returns have been received by the Internal Revenue Service and nearly 8 million refunds were sent out so far.

According to the IRS, the best and fastest way to get your refund is via direct deposit into your bank account.

“Eight out of 10 taxpayers get their refunds by using direct deposit,” the agency said on its website. “It is simple, safe and secure.”

It added that with an electronic deposit, your refund won’t get lost, stolen and destroyed.

How long does a direct deposit take?

You can expect your federal refund in less than a month.

The agency said that nine out of 10 refunds are sent out in less than 21 days, but it may take longer depending on whether your return needs further assessment.

It’s the same for state refunds — about three weeks for e-file. It can take three months, according to the California Franchise Tax Board, if you file paper.

How to track your return?

You can get daily updates on your federal tax refund by checking the IRS online tool. It’s updated once a day, overnight.

All you need is your Social Security or taxpayer ID number, filing status and refund amount.

The California tax board also has an online tool. Have your SSN, address and refund amount handy.

Important deadlines

Most taxpayers in the United States should file their returns by April 18.

There is an automatic extension for filing until Oct. 16, but you’ll still need to pay your taxes by the original deadline, April 18, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Some counties in California have extended deadlines due to storms in January.

For most of the state, including Sacramento, Placer and Yolo counties, taxpayers have until May 15 to file their taxes.

The extension includes the following, according to the tax board:

• Individuals whose tax returns and payments are due on April 18, 2023.
• Quarterly estimated tax payments due Jan. 17, 2023, and April 18, 2023.
• Business entities whose tax returns and payments are due on March 15, 2023.

This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 10:04 AM with the headline "When will I get my tax refund? Here’s what Californians should do if they want it soon."