Filed 2/6, DDD 2/22 - Got Federal Refund Already! Still Waiting on GA State

According to GA Department of Revenue regulations (O.C.G.A. § 48-2-35), they have up to 90 days to process state returns, though most are completed within 21-45 days. Did you file state and federal simultaneously? I'm curious because I'm in a similar situation - federal processed quickly but my GA return seems to be in limbo. Have you checked the GA Tax Center portal for status updates?

Several things to consider regarding GA state refunds: • GA DOR processes returns in batches rather than continuously like the IRS • Identity verification is more manual in GA's system • Their electronic processing infrastructure is less robust • State budget constraints affect processing speed • They prioritize fraud prevention over speed I'm skeptical of any "tricks" to speed it up - just patience required. Have you verified your banking info is correct on the GA return?

GA Department of Revenue's antiquated Processing Queue Management System (PQMS) is notorious for causing these delays! I was shocked to learn they still use a modified version of their 1990s verification protocol. When I needed to follow up on my delayed GA refund last year, I couldn't get through on their phone lines for days. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to connect with a GA DOR agent who confirmed my return was stuck in verification. The agent manually moved it forward and I received my refund 4 days later. Sometimes you just need to speak to an actual person to resolve these bureaucratic bottlenecks.

I think Georgia is actually improving compared to previous years. My refund took 67 days in 2022, 54 days in 2023, and only 32 days this year. I believe they might be... gradually modernizing their systems. Not ideal, but at least trending in the right direction. If you're really concerned, you could try calling, but in my experience they'll just tell you it's still processing unless it's been more than 45 days.

Have you tried checking your status on the GA Tax Center website? Isn't it interesting how the federal system can process millions more returns yet still be faster than individual states? I was pulling my hair out waiting for my GA refund last year, but once I discovered you can check the status online, it gave me some peace of mind. Even though the status was just "processing" for weeks, at least I knew it was in their system. Relief came when it finally changed to "processed" and the money arrived three days later.

Georgia's tax processing is like a southern country road compared to the IRS highway system - takes you to the same place but at a much more leisurely pace! The state uses a different verification system that checks returns against employer reporting, which creates a bottleneck. I've noticed that if you claimed any tax credits on your GA return, that tends to slow things down even more. Have you claimed any GA-specific credits this year?