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FTB refund MIA after 1 month - Oakland office paperwork didn't help. Any tips to track it down?

Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle with my California state tax refund. I filed my return over a month ago and was told I'd get my refund within two weeks. Well, surprise surprise, still no check in the mail. I even went to the Oakland office and filled out some paperwork they sent me. Anyone else dealing with this? Any advice on how to track down my refund or speed up the process? I'm starting to get worried here.

Romeo Barrett

Ugh, I feel your pain. The FTB (Franchise Tax Board) can be such a pain to deal with. Have you tried checking your refund status online? Sometimes that's faster than waiting for them to get back to you.

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Issac Nightingale

Yeah, I tried that but it just says 'processing'. Not very helpful šŸ™„

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4M

Marina Hendrix

Classic FTB move. They're always 'processing' until they're not. Hang in there, OP!

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Justin Trejo

I had a similar issue last year. Turns out there was a small error on my return that held things up. Might be worth double-checking your paperwork to make sure everything's correct.

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Alana Willis

Have you tried calling them directly? I know it's a pain, but sometimes that's the only way to get answers.

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Issac Nightingale

I've been trying, but the hold times are insane. I swear I could grow a beard waiting for someone to pick up šŸ˜‚

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Tyler Murphy

Pro tip: call right when they open. You might have better luck getting through.

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Sara Unger

Hey, I found a way to actually get someone on the phone without the crazy wait times. I used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it worked for me and saved me hours of frustration. Here's the link: https://claimyr.com

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Butch Sledgehammer

Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?

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Sara Unger

I was skeptical at first too, but it really did work for me. Saved me a ton of time and headache.

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Freya Ross

20 bucks tho? Idk man, seems steep just to make a phone call.

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Sara Unger

I get it, but for me, it was worth it to not spend hours on hold. Time is money, ya know? šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

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Leslie Parker

Listen up, folks. I've been dealing with the FTB for years, and here's what I've learned: ā€¢ Always keep copies of EVERYTHING you send them. I mean everything. ā€¢ If you filed a paper return, it can take up to 3 months to process. Yeah, it sucks. ā€¢ Check for any notices from the FTB. Sometimes they need additional info and don't make it obvious. ā€¢ If you e-filed, verify that it was actually accepted. Sometimes returns get rejected without you knowing. ā€¢ If it's been more than 8 weeks since you filed, you can request a manual review of your account. ā€¢ Consider using their MyFTB service online. It's not perfect, but it can give you more info than the general 'Where's My Refund?' tool. Remember, patience is key with these guys. But don't be afraid to be persistent if something seems off. Good luck!

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Issac Nightingale

Wow, thanks for all the info! I'll definitely look into the manual review option.

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Sergio Neal

This guy FTBs šŸ‘†

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Savanna Franklin

have u tried prayin to the tax gods? šŸ™šŸ’ø maybe sacrifice a calculator or somethin lol

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Juan Moreno

LMAO šŸ¤£ I'm dead. Tax gods, please bless us with timely refunds and minimal audits!

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Amy Fleming

Serious question: has anyone ever sued the FTB for delays? I'm starting to wonder if there's any legal recourse when they take forever with refunds.

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Alice Pierce

I looked into this once. Turns out, they have a lot of legal protection. You might be able to get interest on a very delayed refund, but suing them is pretty much a non-starter.

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Amy Fleming

Figures. The house always wins, I guess. šŸ˜’

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Esteban Tate

Not to be that guy, but have you considered filing electronically next time? It's usually faster and you can track your refund more easily.

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Issac Nightingale

Yeah, lesson learned for sure. Definitely going digital next year!

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