CA State Tax Refund Delay - How Long Does It Usually Take?

In California, if you e-filed and chose direct deposit, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks to get your state tax refund. Have you checked the status online? Sometimes there can be delays if there's an issue with your return or if they need additional information.

Ugh, I'm in the same boat. Filed in early February and still nothing. The waiting game is killing me! 😫

I found a way to actually get someone on the phone about this. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Pro tip: If you're really in a bind and need your refund ASAP, you can try contacting your state representative's office. They sometimes have ways to expedite things or at least get you more info.

Honestly, the whole tax system is a joke. Why should we have to wait weeks or even months to get OUR money back? It's not like they take their sweet time when we owe them! 🙄

Here's a detailed breakdown of what could be causing delays and what you can do: • Incorrect information: Double-check that all your personal info (SSN, address, etc.) is correct on your return. • Math errors: The system might flag your return if there are calculation mistakes. • Missing documents: Ensure you've included all necessary forms and schedules. • Identity verification: Sometimes they need extra steps to verify your identity. • High volume: Peak filing season can cause general slowdowns. What you can do: 1. Check your status online regularly 2. If it's been more than 3 weeks, try calling the FTB 3. Consider using a tax advocate service if you're facing financial hardship 4. Be patient - most delays resolve themselves within 6-8 weeks Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

lol watch the refund hit your account the day after you spend hours trying to contact someone about it. Murphy's law, am I right? 😂

Has anyone else noticed that the refunds seem to be taking longer each year? I swear it used to be faster back in the day.

Quick question for the group: does anyone know if amending your return affects the refund timeline? I just realized I forgot to include some 1099 income 😬

I'm in a similar situation - filed my CA state return in late January and still waiting! From what I've read, CA has been experiencing some processing delays this year. One thing that helped ease my anxiety was setting up text alerts through the FTB website so I get notified when there's any update on my refund status. Also, I called the FTB customer service line (1-800-852-5711) last week and they said as long as your return shows "received" in the system, you're good - just need to be patient. The rep mentioned they're working through a backlog but most e-filed returns with direct deposit are getting processed within 4-6 weeks this year. Hang in there! 🤞

I had the exact same issue last year! Filed in January and didn't get my CA refund until mid-March. What really helped was checking the "Where's My Refund" tool on the FTB website weekly rather than daily (saved my sanity lol). One thing I learned is that if you claimed any credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or California Earned Income Tax Credit, they have to do additional verification which can add 2-3 weeks to processing time. Also, make sure your bank account info is correct - I've heard of people having delays because their bank rejected the deposit due to a closed account or name mismatch. The good news is that CA does pay interest on delayed refunds if it takes longer than 45 days from the due date, so there's that small consolation! Hang tight, it'll come through! 💪

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my CA state return in early February and still waiting. The anxiety is real! 😰 What I've found helpful is calling the FTB automated line (1-800-338-0505) - you can check your refund status without waiting for a human agent. Just have your SSN and refund amount ready. Also, I learned that if you moved recently or changed banks, that can cause delays too since they need to verify the new info. I'm trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're counting on that money! Thanks for posting this - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in this waiting game. Hopefully we all get good news soon! 🙏

I'm dealing with the same frustrating wait! Filed my CA return in mid-January and still nothing. What's been driving me crazy is that my federal refund came through in like 10 days, but the state is taking forever. I called that automated line someone mentioned (1-800-338-0505) and my return just shows "received" - no processing date or anything. At this point I'm just trying to remind myself that no news is probably good news, and it sounds like 4-6 weeks is pretty normal this year based on what others have shared. Still doesn't make the waiting any easier though! 😤 Thanks for starting this thread - it's nice to know we're all suffering together lol

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed my CA state return in late January and it's been radio silence ever since. The waiting is absolutely killing me because I really need that refund for some unexpected expenses that came up. What's really frustrating is that I got my federal refund in less than two weeks, but here we are still waiting on the state. I've been checking the FTB website obsessively (probably not good for my mental health lol) and it just keeps saying "received" with no updates. Thanks for posting this - it's actually really comforting to see I'm not the only one going through this torture! 😅 Hopefully we'll all get some good news soon. The automated phone line tip someone shared is gold - definitely going to use that instead of trying to get through to a human agent!