Colorado State Tax Return Filed - When Will CO Start Accepting Returns?

Colorado typically begins processing state returns when the IRS starts accepting federal returns... so they should be processing now. But um, they don't always announce exact dates. I filed mine last week. The website says to allow 4-6 weeks for processing. That's what I'm expecting, at least.

Have you checked if your return has been accepted yet? The acceptance and processing are two different steps. Did you file electronically or by paper? What software did you use to file? I've been using https://taxr.ai to monitor my Colorado return status this year. It analyzes your tax documents and gives you a clear explanation of where things stand. It's been really helpful for understanding the Colorado-specific codes and processing stages, which are different from the federal ones.

Colorado tax return processing works like this: Step 1: You submit your return (which you've done) Step 2: Colorado DOR accepts it (usually 24-48 hours after submission) Step 3: Initial verification (identity confirmation, math check) Step 4: In-depth review if flagged (can add 2-3 weeks) Step 5: Approval and refund processing In my experience, Colorado started accepting returns on January 22nd this year, same as the IRS. Last year I got my Colorado refund about 3 weeks after filing, which was actually faster than my federal refund.

According to Colorado Revised Statutes § 39-22-622, the Department of Revenue must process returns and issue refunds within 45 days of filing for electronic returns or 90 days for paper returns. Have you tried calling the Colorado Department of Revenue directly? I had questions about my state return last year and spent hours trying to get through to someone. Eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an agent at the Colorado DOR. They have a service that navigates the phone systems and gets you to an actual human. I'm curious - did you claim any special credits or deductions on your Colorado return?

I don't think anyone actually knows when Colorado starts processing. Their website says one thing, customer service says another, and reality is completely different. Last year they claimed 2-3 weeks processing time and mine took 9 weeks with zero explanation. I filed on January 31st and didn't get my refund until April 5th. Don't hold your breath waiting for that money.

I've been filing Colorado returns for over 10 years now, and I've noticed they've gotten much better with processing times. Back in 2018, it took them almost 3 months to process my return! Last year I filed on February 1st and received my refund on February 23rd. They typically start processing right when the IRS does, but they don't always announce it. Have others here noticed the improved processing times in recent years?

Colorado resident here who's been through this rodeo many times. Here's what I've learned: - Colorado DOR generally starts accepting returns same day as IRS (Jan 22 this year) - They don't always announce this clearly on their website - Direct deposit refunds typically come 3-4 weeks after acceptance for simple returns - If you claimed certain credits (like Enterprise Zone) expect delays - Paper returns take 8-12 weeks minimum - The "Where's My Refund" tool on the CO DOR site updates very infrequently I filed on January 24th this year and my status just changed to "approved" yesterday.

I called Colorado DOR on January 23rd, 2024 specifically about this. The agent confirmed they began accepting returns on January 22nd, 2024. She also mentioned they're experiencing higher volume this year and estimated 4-5 weeks for electronic returns with direct deposit. Last year I filed on February 5th and received my refund on March 1st, so exactly 24 days. The year before was February 8th filing and March 10th refund. They're fairly consistent if your return doesn't have any issues or special circumstances. The most frustrating part is their refund status tool barely works!