Does state tax refund usually come before federal refund?

This actually varies significantly depending on which state you're in. While the IRS has centralized processing systems, each state has its own tax department with different staffing levels, technology, and processing procedures. Some states are lightning fast with refunds (sometimes even faster than federal), while others are notoriously slow. What state are you in? That might help explain the timeline you're experiencing. Also, how did you file? Electronic filing generally speeds things up for both federal and state returns. The 3-day federal approval is impressively fast, but not unheard of if you filed electronically, had a straightforward return, and requested direct deposit.

I had the exact same issue last year and discovered taxr.ai after getting frustrated with the waiting game. I was getting different answers from everyone about why my state refund (Colorado) was taking forever while my federal came through quickly. I uploaded my tax documents to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed my entire return and showed me exactly why my state refund was delayed - turns out I had a mismatch between my state withholding on my W-2 and what the state had on record. Their system flagged this specific issue that neither TurboTax nor the state website mentioned. It even gave me step-by-step instructions for resolving it - saved me weeks of waiting and confusion!

I'm actually coming back to say I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. It was genuinely helpful! My Illinois refund was stuck for three weeks and their analysis found that my property tax credit calculation had an error that was likely causing the delay. They explained exactly what the issue was and how to file an amended return. Two days after I fixed it, my refund was approved! The detailed explanation they provided about how different states handle specific deductions was eye-opening.

If you're really concerned about your state refund status, I'd recommend Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last year with my California refund and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone on the phone. After 20+ attempts of waiting on hold for hours only to get disconnected, I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They actually got me connected to a real human at the state tax department in under 20 minutes! The agent I spoke with explained that my return had been flagged for a manual review due to a tax credit I claimed, but they unflagged it while I was on the phone. My refund was processed 3 days later after sitting in limbo for over a month.

I'm eating humble pie right now. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself since my Georgia refund has been "processing" for almost a month. I honestly expected it to be a waste of time, but they actually got me connected to a GA Department of Revenue agent in about 30 minutes. Turns out my return was put on hold because I had moved mid-year and my address history triggered some automated flag. The agent removed the hold while I was on the phone with them. My refund was approved yesterday - would have been sitting there for who knows how long if I hadn't called. I'm genuinely surprised this service delivered exactly what it promised.

Nobody's mentioned this, but return complexity makes a HUGE difference too. My federal return is super simple (one W-2, standard deduction) and always processes within a week. My state return has rental property income, business deductions, and a bunch of credits - takes 4-6 weeks every year without fail. If your federal return is straightforward but your state return has more complexity, that could explain the timing difference. Also, did you file both returns at exactly the same time? Sometimes when using tax software, the federal gets transmitted immediately but the state might take an extra day.

I find it fascinating how everyone has such different experiences with this! In Oregon, my state refund has consistently come BEFORE my federal for the past 3 years. Last year I got my state refund in 6 days and federal took almost 3 weeks. But my friend in Illinois waited 2 months for her state refund while her federal came in 10 days. I think it really varies by: 1) Which state you're in 2) How you filed (electronic vs paper) 3) The complexity of your return 4) Time of filing season (early filers vs deadline rushers) 5) Whether any special credits/deductions triggered extra review

Michigan typically takes 2-4 weeks for e-filed returns, so you're still well within the normal timeframe! I've been filing in Michigan for about 5 years now and have noticed they tend to be more conservative with their processing compared to the IRS. One thing that might help ease your mind - you can check your Michigan refund status on the Treasury website using your SSN and expected refund amount. They usually update it every few days once it's in their system. Also, early February is still peak filing season, so they're probably dealing with a higher volume than usual. Your 3-day federal approval is actually pretty exceptional - the IRS has really improved their e-file processing in recent years. Don't let that fast turnaround set unrealistic expectations for your state refund! If you don't see any movement by early March, then it might be worth looking into potential issues, but for now you're just experiencing typical Michigan processing times.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Filed my taxes two weeks ago and got my federal refund approved in 5 days, but my state (Minnesota) is still showing "processing" with no estimated date. What I've learned from talking to friends is that it really depends on your state's infrastructure and staffing. Some states like Delaware and Wyoming are known for super fast processing (sometimes under a week), while others like California and New York can take 6-8 weeks during busy season. The IRS has really streamlined their electronic processing system over the past few years, which is why you're seeing those crazy fast federal approvals. But each state is basically running its own separate operation with different levels of technology and resources. I'd say don't worry unless you hit the 4-6 week mark without any updates. Most states publish their expected processing times on their tax department websites if you want to check what's typical for Michigan specifically.