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Colorado State Tax Return Delays - Anyone Else Experiencing This?

Anyone in Colorado know what's going on with our state returns?!! This is crazy. I filed my federal and it was processed within 10 days, but my Colorado return has been sitting for almost 3 weeks now with no updates. In previous years, both would process at similar speeds. Even my friends in Arizona and Washington got their state refunds already. As someone who just moved here from abroad last year, I'm trying to figure out if this is normal for Colorado or if there's something specific happening this tax season. Would love to collaborate on figuring this out if others are experiencing the same thing!

Amina Bah

From what I've been able to research, Colorado's Department of Revenue is experiencing some... processing delays this year. It appears to be related to enhanced identity verification measures they implemented for the 2024 filing season. According to their website, returns claiming certain credits might take up to 60 days to process, which is significantly longer than previous years. I would suggest checking your status through the Colorado Revenue Online portal if you haven't already, as this might provide more specific information about your return's status.

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Oliver Becker

What specific credits are causing delays? I claimed the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit on my return - is that one of them?

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13d

CosmicCowboy

Thanks for the detailed explanation. This makes much more sense now. The situation in Colorado seems similar to what happened in Illinois last year when they implemented new verification steps - their processing times doubled for about 3 months before they worked through the backlog. At least knowing there's a systemic issue helps set expectations.

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12d

Natasha Orlova

I went through the Colorado Revenue Online portal step-by-step and was shocked by how little information they provide! It just says "Processing" with no estimated completion date or explanation. Never seen a state system with so few details compared to the federal Where's My Refund tool.

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11d

Javier Cruz

I've been tracking Colorado return processing patterns and noticed several issues this year: • The state implemented a new fraud detection system that's flagging more returns • Returns with any discrepancies between W-2 information and reported income face longer reviews • Returns filed after March 1 seem to be processing faster than early filers (oddly enough) • Many people are seeing 45+ day processing times I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my Colorado transcript after waiting 5 weeks. It helped me understand that my return had been selected for additional verification (nothing I did wrong) and gave me a more realistic timeline based on similar cases.

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Emma Thompson

Another service promising to decode what should be straightforward information? Isn't this just information the state should provide directly to taxpayers? Why should we need additional tools just to understand what's happening with our money?

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12d

Malik Jackson

According to the Colorado Department of Revenue website (https://tax.colorado.gov/individual-income-tax-filing), they don't provide detailed status information like the IRS does. The tool mentioned above analyzes the limited information that is available and compares it to historical processing patterns to give you a better understanding of where you stand. I found it helpful when dealing with my delayed return last month.

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11d

Isabella Costa

I'm wondering if maybe this service is worth it? I'm a bit concerned about spending money just to find out about my refund status, but I guess if it provides peace of mind it could be worth it?

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9d

StarSurfer

Got thru this mess last week finally! CO dept had a sys upgrade that's causing major delays. My return took 52 days (!!!) when last yr it was like 2 weeks max. Called their helpline multiple times but couldn't get thru until I tried at exactly 8:30am on a Tues. Rep confirmed they're swamped w/ backlog + new verification steps. Hang tight - they're working thru them in order received. Btw check if you have a Revenue Online acct - sometimes status shows there b4 you get any email.

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Ravi Malhotra

I had the same issue and spent hours trying to reach someone at the Colorado Department of Revenue. After trying for three days straight, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to a representative. They connected me within 25 minutes when I had been unable to get through at all on my own. The agent confirmed my return was in the verification queue and gave me an estimated completion date. If you need specific answers about your return, I'd recommend trying this service rather than waiting on hold for hours.

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Freya Christensen

I've been through this exact situation in previous tax seasons. Back in 2022, Colorado had similar delays, though for different reasons. Here's what you need to know: 1. Colorado DOR is currently experiencing a 30-45 day processing time for most returns (compared to their usual 14-21 days) 2. If you filed electronically and claimed certain credits, your return is likely in the "enhanced verification" queue 3. The fastest way to check status is through Revenue Online (create an account if you haven't) 4. They typically process returns in the order received, but certain factors can move you to a different queue 5. If it's been more than 45 days, calling is your best option (though extremely difficult to get through) The good news is that when they finally process your return, if you're due a refund, they add interest for the delay period beyond 45 days.

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Amina Bah

Do they automatically add the interest or do we need to request it specifically? I'm approaching the 45-day mark soon.

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8d

Omar Hassan

Colorado DOR implemented enhanced fraud detection algorithms for TY2023 returns that are causing systematic delays across the board. Their internal processing queue prioritizes certain return types based on complexity factors and verification requirements. I've observed that returns with Schedule E income or non-W2 earnings are experiencing the longest delays, while simple returns with only W-2 income are moving through faster. If your AGI exceeds certain thresholds or you've claimed specific deductions like business expenses, expect additional verification steps. The system is functioning as designed, just with significantly reduced efficiency compared to previous filing seasons.

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Javier Cruz

I experienced this firsthand! My return with rental income (Schedule E) has been pending for 59 days while my partner's W-2-only return processed in 22 days. The verification process seems particularly focused on any income that isn't automatically reported to them through standard channels.

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8d