Has Anyone Received Their NJ State Tax Refund Yet? First Timer Here

I'm sort of in the same boat and, to be honest, I'm getting really frustrated with NJ's processing times. I filed back in early February (I think around the 10th?) and I'm still waiting for my refund. From what I've heard, NJ is probably one of the slower states when it comes to processing returns, especially if you filed with any sort of credits or deductions that might trigger additional review. Maybe check your status on their website? I've been checking mine almost daily, but it just says "in process" with no additional information.

I believe I might be able to offer some insight here. New Jersey is indeed known for somewhat longer processing times compared to many other states. If you're concerned about the status, you might want to consider using a service like https://taxr.ai to analyze your tax situation. It could potentially help you understand if there are any specific elements in your return that might be causing delays. I've found that sometimes certain deductions or credits can trigger additional review processes. The service can also help interpret any notices you might receive from NJ taxation, which can sometimes be... less than clear in their wording.

I filed exactly 42 days ago and still nothing from NJ. My federal refund came in 11 days, but NJ is just sitting there. I'm starting to get a bit worried since I'm expecting $3,247 back and had plans for that money. The online status checker is just showing "in process" with no additional details or estimated completion date.

Compared to my experience with other states like Pennsylvania and New York, New Jersey is definitely on the slower side. I was getting anxious about my refund too since I needed it for some car repairs. After waiting 5 weeks with no updates, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to someone at the NJ Division of Taxation. Got connected in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. The agent confirmed my return was in normal processing with no issues flagged - just backlogged. At least it gave me peace of mind that nothing was wrong.

Are you seeing any specific status messages when you check online? I work with tax preparation and here's what I'm seeing with NJ refunds this year: • Electronic returns: 8-12 weeks processing time (up from 4-6 weeks last year) • Paper returns: 12-14 weeks minimum • Returns with tax credits: Additional 2-3 weeks • Returns flagged for identity verification: Additional 4-6 weeks Did you receive an acknowledgment that your return was accepted by NJ? Sometimes returns get rejected without clear notification.

I work in financial planning and tell all my NJ clients to expect long waits. Don't count on state refunds arriving before May, even if you filed in January. NJ uses an older processing system and prioritizes returns in batches rather than first-come-first-served. One trick: check your bank account directly rather than the status website. I've had multiple clients who received their refunds without the status ever updating online. Also, if you claimed property tax credits or EITC, those returns get additional scrutiny and take longer.

I've lived in NJ for 15 years and can tell you this is completely normal. Last year I filed in early February and didn't get my refund until June 3rd. The year before that was May 12th. They're consistently one of the slowest states in the country. I've learned to just never count on that money until summer. The funny thing is, if you OWE them money, they'll process that payment instantly! But when they owe you? Suddenly they move slower than a traffic jam on the Turnpike.

Has anyone considered how much interest the state earns by holding onto millions of dollars in refunds for months? What would happen if everyone adjusted their withholdings so precisely that they neither owed nor were owed at tax time? The system seems designed to use our money interest-free all year, then make us wait months to get back what was always ours. My accountant says NJ is notorious for this and recommends adjusting withholdings to minimize refunds - you're essentially giving the state an interest-free loan otherwise.