Can I track my state tax refund with a trace number like federal refunds? My DDD is 3/15
I'm waiting on both my federal and state tax refunds. I have a direct deposit date of 3/15 for my federal return. I know how to track that with the trace number on the IRS site, but what about my state refund? Do state tax returns have trace numbers too? Or is there a different way to track them? I filed both returns together through TurboTax in early February.
45 comments
PixelPrincess
State and federal tax systems are completely separate. For your federal refund, you can track it with the Where's My Refund tool using your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. For state refunds, it depends entirely on which state you're in. Most states have their own version of a refund tracker on their department of revenue website. You'll typically need your SSN and the exact refund amount there too. No "trace number" is generally needed for either one - that's typically only used when a refund is lost or missing. What state are you in? I might be able to point you to the right tracking tool.
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Astrid Bergström
I'm in Pennsylvania. Sorry if I'm using the wrong terminology! I thought the number they give you to track federal returns was called a trace number.
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PixelPrincess
For Pennsylvania, you can check your refund status at mypath.pa.gov - you'll need your SSN, filing status, and refund amount. What you're probably thinking of is a reference number or confirmation number, not a trace number. A trace is actually a formal procedure when refunds go missing!
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Astrid Bergström
Thank you! That helps a lot. I was getting confused with all the different terms.
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Omar Farouk
Just be prepared to wait for PA refunds. They're notoriously slow compared to federal. I waited almost 10 weeks last year 😩
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Astrid Bergström
Ugh that's not what I wanted to hear lol. At least my federal seems to be coming soon.
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Chloe Martin
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Chloe Martin
It does WAY more than just read the transcript. It explains every code in detail, tells you exactly where you are in the process, predicts your refund date with scary accuracy, and even lets you know if there are potential issues before they become problems. I was getting so frustrated trying to figure out all these IRS codes on my own and this tool broke it all down for me in seconds. Seriously a game changer!
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Diego Fernández
Wow I just tried it and I'm blown away! I've been stressing for weeks about my refund and within minutes I had more info than weeks of researching on forums. This should be way more widely known! Thanks for sharing this!
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
is this some kind of ad? seems kinda sus 🤔
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Chloe Martin
Nah, just someone who was in the same boat as everyone else here - frustrated with the IRS and their cryptic systems. Found something that helped and wanted to share. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself if you're curious.
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Sean Fitzgerald
After endless frustration with both IRS and state tax departments, I finally got through to a real person using Claimyr.com and had my questions answered in minutes. Saved me literally weeks of busy signals and hold times. For my state taxes, the agent explained exactly how their tracking system works and confirmed my refund was processing. Best decision I made this tax season!
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Zara Khan
Another 'miracle' app? 🙄 And I suppose it costs an arm and a leg?
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Sean Fitzgerald
I was skeptical too, but it worked exactly as advertised. Yeah it costs something but after spending hours redailing the IRS for days, it was worth every penny to finally talk to someone who could actually help me. My refund was stuck for 3 months until I got that call.
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MoonlightSonata
Does it work for state tax departments too or just IRS?
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Sean Fitzgerald
It's for IRS calls, but once I got someone from the IRS on the phone, they were able to explain how the state system works too and gave me the right number to call for my state. Plus they explained how the federal refund affects state processing in some cases.
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Mateo Gonzalez
Each state has their own system for tracking refunds. Most have an online portal similar to the IRS Where's My Refund tool. Google "[your state] where's my refund" and you should find it. You'll typically need your SSN, exact refund amount, and maybe your filing status. No trace numbers involved unless something goes wrong.
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Nia Williams
State tax systems are totally different from federal. I work as a bookkeeper and deal with this stuff all the time. There's no universal "trace number" system across states. Each state has their own department of revenue with their own tracking system. Some states are super efficient (looking at you, Utah with your 7-day refunds), while others are notoriously slow (NY and CA can take months sometimes).
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Luca Ricci
California took 4 MONTHS to process my refund last year. And when I called they acted like that was completely normal. The system is broken 😠
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Aisha Mohammed
Utah rlly be putting other states to shame with how fast they process returns. Got my UT refund in 5 days last year while still waiting on federal.
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Ethan Campbell
theres no trace number for state taxes. each state has there own system but most have a website where u can check status. what state r u in?
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Astrid Bergström
Pennsylvania
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Ethan Campbell
PA has mypath.pa.gov - u can check status there. they are SLOW tho just fyi
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Yuki Watanabe
I had this exact same question last year! So Federal refunds are tracked through the IRS and each state has their own separate system. You can usually find your state's "Where's My Refund" tool on their Department of Revenue website. Also worth noting that state refunds often take longer than federal in my experience. My federal came like 2 weeks before my state last year.
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Carmen Sanchez
I actually just went through this whole process. For state refunds, you don't need a trace number - you just go to your state's tax website and they usually have a lookup tool. Just need your SSN and refund amount. But here's a tip: don't expect your state refund to follow the same timeline as federal. My federal came through on the exact DDD date, but my state refund took an extra 3 weeks even though I filed them together.
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Astrid Bergström
Ugh this is what I was afraid of. Hoping mine doesn't take that long!
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Andre Dupont
No, state and federal tax systems are entirely separate. You won't have a DDD for state taxes the same way you do for federal. Each state handles their refunds differently. Some states are pretty quick, others take forever. I'm still waiting on my state refund from LAST year believe it or not 🤦♂️
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Zoe Papadakis
Last YEAR?! Have you called them? That's insane!
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Andre Dupont
Called at least 10 times. They keep saying "it's under review" with no timeline. State tax departments are even worse than the IRS sometimes.
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ThunderBolt7
I'd recommend contacting your state representative's office. They can often help with these extreme delays. Worked for me last year when my refund was stuck for 4 months.
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Jamal Edwards
If you filed them together through TurboTax, your state return might not even be processed until after your federal is complete. At least that's how it worked for me. Once my federal was done, then my state started processing. You can check your state's dept of revenue website for their specific tracking tool.
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Mei Chen
man I tried for WEEKS to get status on my state refund. Hours on hold, nobody picking up. Couldnt get anywhere on the website either. finally used claimyr.com to get somone on the phone from IRS who actually helped me understand what was going on with both my federal and state returns. turned out my state return was delayed because they were waiting for my federal to finish processing. talking to an actual human solved in 10 min what I spent weeks trying to figure out on my own.
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Liam O'Sullivan
What exactly is claimyr? Never heard of it.
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Mei Chen
It's a service that gets you through to an IRS agent fast. They somehow bypass the hold times and call you back when they have an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. Their site is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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Liam O'Sullivan
Thanks, might give it a try. Been trying to reach someone at the IRS for weeks now.
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Amara Okonkwo
Omg I just went through this exact same thing! So the answer is no - there's no universal trace number system for state refunds. Each state has their own tracking system. Where I live (Florida), they don't even have income tax so I didn't have to worry about it, but my sister in New York had to use their state-specific system to track hers.
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Giovanni Marino
Hahaha I love how we all think the IRS and state tax systems talk to each other. They absolutely DO NOT! 🤣 You need to check your state's department of revenue website. Each state has their own system for tracking refunds. Some are good, many are terrible. Welcome to the wonderful world of American tax bureaucracy!
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Fatima Al-Sayed
This is the correct answer right here ⬆️
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Dylan Hughes
Aint that the truth! Not only do they not talk to each other, sometimes different departments WITHIN the IRS don't even talk to each other 🤦♂️
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Giovanni Marino
One time I got a letter saying I owed money to the IRS, paid it, then got a refund for the exact same amount the next week because a different department processed my amended return. Then got ANOTHER letter saying I still owed the money. It's like the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.
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NightOwl42
So glad I came across taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) this year! I was in a similar situation with questions about both state and federal returns. The tool clarified exactly where my federal refund was in the process and when to expect it. For the state return, it explained how state processing typically follows federal completion. Saved me hours of research and worry!
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Sofia Rodriguez
Another spammy comment about this taxr thing? Getting real tired of these ads disguised as helpful comments 🙄
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NightOwl42
Not an ad, just sharing what helped me. But whatever, keep stressing over transcript codes and waiting on hold with the IRS for hours if that's your preference. I'm just glad I found something that actually worked.
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Dmitry Ivanov
Just to add a bit more info: When people talk about "trace numbers" for federal taxes, they're usually referring to the process of requesting a trace on a missing refund, NOT a tracking number. For normal tracking, you just use the Where's My Refund tool with your basic info. But if your refund is lost or doesn't arrive by the expected date, you would request a "trace" which then generates a case number. States have similar processes, but each one is different.
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