How soon can I get my tax refund in California? What to know before you file in 2025
The Internal Revenue Service is now accepting 2024 tax returns.
The deadline to file a California or federal income tax return for 2024 is Tuesday, April 15.
You can request a six-month extension to file the return if you need extra time.
However, you must pay any tax money you owe by the April deadline.
If you’re eligible for a tax refund, here’s when you can expect to get one and reasons why your payment might be delayed.
When can I expect my federal tax refund?
The IRS typically processes a tax refund within 21 days of receiving an electronically filed tax return, the agency said on its website.
A completed and mailed tax return document on paper can take four weeks or more, and an amended return — that’s a return filed to correct errors in the original return — can take up to 16 weeks to process.
Taxpayers who are eligible for an earned income tax credit or an additional child tax credit may take longer to receive their refunds if they’re filing early.
According to an IRS news release, the agency cannot issue those refunds before mid-February.
Most refunds related to these credits should be deposited into bank accounts by March 8 as long as there are no issues with the tax return, the agency said.
How soon will I get my California tax refund?
The California Franchise Tax Board takes up to one month to issue e-filed tax refunds and up to four months to issue refunds to taxpayers who filed on paper, according to the board’s website.
Amended tax returns may take five months to be processed.
Tax refunds for businesses that file electronically or on paper can take six months to be issued.
Why are tax refunds delayed?
According to the IRS, some tax returns can take longer to process.
Reasons a tax refund might delayed include when a return:
- Is sent by mail
- Contains errors or is incomplete
- Is amended
- Is affected by identity theft or fraud
- Was referred to the IRS by the bank due to suspicious activity
- Includes a claim filed for an earned income tax credit or an additional child tax credit
- Includes an injured spouse allocation
- Needs further review in general
If more information is needed to process returns, the IRS will contact those taxpayers by mail.
What’s the fastest way to get my tax return?
According to the IRS, the “best and fastest way” to get your tax refund is to have it electronically deposited for free into your bank account via direct deposit.
You can have funds deposited in up to three accounts.
“Eight out of 10 taxpayers get their refunds by using direct deposit,” the IRS website said. “It is simple, safe and secure. This is the same electronic transfers system used to deposit nearly 98% of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits into millions of accounts.”
Combining electronic filing and direct deposit to file early produces the fastest refunds, according to the IRS said, noting that it reduces the chance of refunds “going uncashed, getting lost, stolen or destroyed.”
How can I check my refund status?
The IRS and California Franchise Tax Board both have tools that show the status of your tax refund.
You can check the status of your federal tax refund at the Where’s My Refund? page on the IRS website. It can take up to 24 hours to see your refund status if you filed electronically.
To see the status of your federal tax refund, you’ll need:
- Your Social Security Number or individual taxpayer ID number
- Your filing status
- The exact amount of your refund
To check your personal California refund status on the Franchise Tax Board website, you’ll need:
- Your Social Security Number
- ZIP code
- The exact refund amount
- Your street address numbers
This story was originally published February 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM with the headline "How soon can I get my tax refund in California? What to know before you file in 2025."
