Has anyone in Illinois received their state tax refund via Cash App direct deposit yet?
I filed my Illinois state taxes on March 4th and chose to get my refund through Cash App direct deposit option. Its been almost 6 weeks now and still nothing in my account. On the IL revenue website it shows "refund issued" since April 3rd but Cash App shows no pending deposits. Anyone else from Illinois use Cash App for their state refund and actually received it? How long did it take? Getting worried since this is the first time I've used anything besides my regular bank account.
49 comments


Atticus Domingo
Illinois state refunds through third-party payment apps like Cash App can be problematic. The issue is that sometimes the routing numbers for these financial technology platforms aren't properly recognized by state systems, unlike the IRS which has updated their systems to accommodate them. First, double-check the routing and account numbers you provided on your return. If there's even one digit wrong, the deposit will be rejected. If the numbers are correct, here's what to do: 1. Contact Illinois Department of Revenue directly at 1-800-732-8866 2. Provide them your filing information and tell them the website shows "refund issued" 3. Ask if they can see if the deposit was rejected 4. If rejected, they may need to issue a paper check instead Sometimes the state will automatically convert to a paper check after a failed direct deposit, but this adds 2-3 weeks to the process. This happens more frequently with Cash App, Venmo and other payment apps than with traditional banks.
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Elin Robinson
•Thanks for the detailed response! I double checked and my routing/account numbers are definitely correct. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what's going on.
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Beth Ford
•I had the EXACT same issue but with Venmo last year. Ended up getting a paper check about 3 weeks after the "refund issued" date. Super annoying.
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Morita Montoya
•This is why I always stick with traditional banks for tax returns. Too many variables with these payment apps.
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Kingston Bellamy
I was in the same boat with tax refund issues. Between checking my transcript, waiting on hold, and trying to decipher codes on the IRS website, I was going crazy. A friend recommended taxr.ai which was basically a lifesaver. It analyzed my transcript and explained exactly what was happening with my refund status and what all those weird codes actually meant. Gave me a clear timeline too. So much better than guessing and stressing out. I use it every time I need to check anything tax-related now. https://taxr.ai
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Joy Olmedo
•Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Kingston Bellamy
•It does WAY more than just read your transcript. It analyzes all those cryptic codes and explains what they mean in normal human language. It showed me exactly why my refund was delayed and when I could expect it. I was stressing for weeks before I tried it! Seriously the best money I've spent all year. It even explained some credits I didn't know I qualified for!
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Isaiah Cross
•another tax tool? idk man sounds like one of those things that just repeats what the IRS website already says 🙄
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Kingston Bellamy
•Nah, that's what I thought too, but it's completely different. The IRS website just gives you those confusing code numbers. This actually explains what's happening with your specific situation and what to do about it. Saved me hours of googling and stressing.
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Kiara Greene
I used Cash App for my IL refund and got it after about 4 weeks. But that was back in February when I filed super early. I think they're just backed up now with everyone filing in March. If the website says refund issued, maybe give it another week?
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Evelyn Kelly
After waiting FOREVER for my IL refund and getting nowhere with their stupid automated system, I found a way to actually talk to a human! Used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me past the hold times and connected to an actual agent at the IL revenue department. The agent confirmed my Cash App deposit failed and they were sending a paper check. Talking to a real person cleared everything up in like 10 minutes instead of waiting and wondering for another month. Worth every penny to just get an answer!
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Paloma Clark
•wait for real? how does that even work? seems too good to be true tbh 👀
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Evelyn Kelly
•It basically calls for you and navigates all the annoying phone menus, then calls you when it gets a human on the line. Saved me from having to waste hours on hold. The agent I talked to immediately saw that there was a problem with my Cash App account info and fixed it.
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Heather Tyson
•hmm sounds like some sketchy service... they probably just put you on hold anyway and charge you for it
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Evelyn Kelly
•Nope, not sketchy at all. I was literally on the phone with an IL revenue agent within 25 minutes when I had tried calling myself multiple times and gave up after an hour on hold. For me it was a no-brainer because my time is worth something too. They don't even ask for any personal info - they just call you when they have an agent.
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Beth Ford
•Does it work for IRS calls too or just state revenue departments?
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Evelyn Kelly
•Works for both! Actually I used it first for the IRS and then realized it worked for state agencies too. Saved my sanity.
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Raul Neal
I'm in Illinois and had a similar issue with my state refund, but I used Chime instead of Cash App. It took about 3 weeks after the "refund issued" message before the money actually appeared in my account. No idea why there was such a delay, but it did eventually come through. Maybe give it a bit more time?
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Elin Robinson
•That gives me some hope! I'll wait another week before panicking completely lol
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Jenna Sloan
•3 weeks after "refund issued"?! That's ridiculous. The state is basically sitting on your money earning interest while you wait. 😡
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Christian Burns
don't use cash app for important govt payments its not worth the headache. my bro had same issue n ended up getting paper check 5 weeks later. illinois tax dept is super backloged right now
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Sasha Reese
I'm an accountant and I've seen a huge increase in clients having issues with Cash App, Venmo, and other payment apps for tax refunds this year. These services aren't always set up properly in state tax systems, even though the IRS has gotten better at accepting them. For Illinois specifically, they've been having technical issues processing certain routing numbers. My advice: Call IL Dept of Revenue directly, and if you can't get through, consider using something like claimyr.com to connect with an agent. They'll be able to tell you if the deposit failed and reroute to a paper check. For the future, traditional bank accounts are still the most reliable for tax refunds.
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Muhammad Hobbs
•Thanks for the insider knowledge! I bet they don't prioritize fixing these issues with payment apps either since most people just wait it out.
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Elin Robinson
•Really appreciate the professional perspective. Definitely going back to my regular bank next year!
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Noland Curtis
something similar happened to me this year. check your cashapp settings and make sure direct deposits are enabled. mine were turned off somehow and i had to contact IL revenue to get a paper check sent instead. took like 2 more weeks 😫
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Elin Robinson
•Just checked and direct deposits are enabled! That's a good suggestion though, thanks!
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Diez Ellis
Not Cash App but I used PayPal for my IL refund this year and it was a complete disaster. Ended up getting a paper check after 8 weeks of waiting. Never again. The IL Department of Revenue website is always showing statuses that aren't accurate too.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Same. Illinois tax system seems stuck in 2005. Their processing times are ridiculous.
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Abby Marshall
My roommate used Cash App for her Illinois refund and got it about 2 weeks after the website said "refund issued." But she filed in January, so maybe they're more backed up now?
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Sadie Benitez
Look up your refund on the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IL Dept of Revenue website. Login with your IL-PIN and it'll give you a better status than just "refund issued". Sometimes that message can be misleading and it might actually be saying they've approved it but haven't sent it yet.
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Elin Robinson
•That's where I'm seeing the "refund issued" status. When I click for more details it just says "Your refund has been issued as of 04/03/2023" with no other information.
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Sadie Benitez
•Ah I see. In that case I'd definitely call them. "Issued" should mean it's been sent, so something's definitely not right if it's been that long.
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Drew Hathaway
I had so many issues with my tax return this year. I couldn't understand why my refund was delayed, and the IRS transcript was impossible to understand. I used taxr.ai and it was incredible - analyzed all my tax info and explained exactly what was happening and why things were delayed. It even gave me the exact dates to expect updates. So much better than trying to figure it out myself or sitting on hold for hours. https://taxr.ai
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Laila Prince
•another ad? 🙄 can we get actual advice instead of service recommendations?
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Drew Hathaway
•Not an ad, just sharing what worked for me after weeks of frustration. I spent hours googling IRS codes and got nowhere. This actually showed me what was happening with my specific situation. But do whatever works for you!
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Isabel Vega
•I checked out that site after seeing it mentioned here. Pretty cool actually. Answered questions I'd been trying to figure out for weeks.
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Dominique Adams
The IL Department of Revenue is NOTORIOUS for delays with alternative payment methods. They prioritize traditional bank deposits first, then paper checks, and apps like Cash App are at the bottom of the queue. I waited 7 weeks for my Venmo deposit before giving up and calling. They switched me to a paper check which arrived in 10 days.
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Marilyn Dixon
Exact same thing happened to me!!! I also did Cash App for IL refund and it never came. Called after 5 weeks and they said there was a "processing error" with Cash App accounts. They had to mail me a paper check instead which took another 2 weeks. Super annoying but at least I got it eventually.
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Elin Robinson
•This is making me think I definitely need to call them. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Louisa Ramirez
Not in Illinois but had a similar issue with my state refund in Michigan using Cash App. Try calling Cash App support too - sometimes they hold tax refunds for "verification" and don't notify you. They released mine after I called and complained.
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TommyKapitz
After spending HOURS trying to reach anyone at the IL tax department and getting absolutely nowhere, I finally broke down and used claimyr.com to get through to an agent. Best decision ever. Got connected to a real person who explained exactly what was happening with my refund (there was an issue they never bothered to tell me about). Resolved everything in one call instead of waiting months for a letter. Sometimes you gotta pay a little to save your sanity.
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Angel Campbell
•How does that even work? Like they wait on hold for you or something?
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TommyKapitz
•Yeah basically they navigate all the phone tree options and wait on hold, then call you once they have a human on the line. Saved me from wasting half my day on hold. Agent told me my return had been flagged for review which is why it was taking so long.
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Payton Black
•That's actually brilliant. The hold times are such a racket - it's like they WANT to make it impossible to talk to someone 😂
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Harold Oh
Listen i know this sounds basic but have you checked your spam/promotions folder in email? I missed the notification from Cash App that I needed to verify my identity before they'd release my tax refund. Almost lost mine because the email went to spam.
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Elin Robinson
•Good point! Just checked and nothing there, but thank you for suggesting it!
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Amun-Ra Azra
I've been working on taxes for 11 years now and would NEVER recommend using Cash App, Venmo, etc for tax refunds. Yes they're convenient but they have so many issues with state tax agencies. Stick with a traditional bank account - you'll get your money faster and with fewer headaches 100% of the time.
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Summer Green
Try checking your transcript if you can access it. It might show if there's an issue with your refund that's not showing up on the IL website. I was in a similar situation and taxr.ai helped me decode what was actually happening with my refund when the state website was useless. Turns out there was a review flag on my account that was causing the delay. https://taxr.ai
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Javier Gomez
I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my Illinois taxes in early March using Cash App direct deposit and it's been showing "refund issued" for weeks now with nothing in my account. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like Illinois has major issues with payment apps this year. I'm definitely going to call the IL Department of Revenue tomorrow to see if my deposit failed. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this! Next year I'm definitely going back to my regular bank account. These payment apps just aren't worth the hassle for tax refunds.
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