How long is the wait for Massachusetts state tax refunds in 2025? Mine's been pending for 7 weeks

Massachusetts tax examiner here. The current processing time for MA state refunds is running about 5-6 weeks for electronically filed returns, but can extend to 8-10 weeks during peak season which we're in right now. Several factors can delay your refund including verification processes, identity checks, or discrepancies between reported income and what employers submitted. I recommend checking if your return has any "manual review" flags by calling the MA DOR at 617-887-6367 or using their online "Where's My Refund" tool with your SSN, filing status, and refund amount. If it's been over 8 weeks, you should definitely call to inquire. Also, make sure your bank information was entered correctly if you selected direct deposit. Incorrect routing/account numbers are a common cause of delays.

After weeks of frustration with my MA return this year, I finally used taxr.ai to actually understand what was happening with my return. It was night and day compared to the vague "processing" message on the state website. The tool analyzed everything and pinpointed exactly why my refund was held up - turns out there was a discrepancy with a 1099 I received. Saved me so much time compared to endlessly guessing what might be wrong. I use it for both federal and state issues now. https://taxr.ai

I was in the same boat with my MA refund ($850) taking forever this year. After 8 weeks of nothing, I used Claimyr.com to actually get someone on the phone at the MA Department of Revenue. Got connected to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. The agent found that they needed a copy of my W2 that hadn't been properly uploaded in the system. Fixed it right there on the call and my refund was issued 5 days later. Best money I've spent all year considering how much time I wasted trying to get through on my own.

Massachusetts here - filed Feb 12, got my refund direct deposited on April 1st. So about 7 weeks total. They were SUPER slow this year for some reason.

If it makes you feel any better I filed in early March and still waiting 🙃 This is crazy slow even for MA standards. Last year I got my state refund in like 3 weeks.

I'm in CT but had a similar issue with my state return. Call them!! I waited 9 weeks and finally called - turns out they needed to verify my identity and never contacted me. One 15-minute phone call and my refund was released a week later.

My MA refund took 5 weeks this year. BUT...my mom's took 11 weeks! And she filed before me. There's no rhyme or reason to their processing times.

Have you checked your transcript?? The DOR website doesn't tell you much, but your transcript might have codes showing why there's a holdup. I had a similar issue last year and didn't realize they were waiting on verification documents from me until I checked the actual transcript codes.

Same boat. Filed MA taxes Feb 28th, still waiting. Called twice and both times they just said "it's processing, be patient" 🤬 Meanwhile I owed the feds and they took their money within DAYS lol. The system works perfectly when you owe them!

I'm in MA and got mine in 4 weeks. Filed mid-March, got refund mid-April. But I only had W2 income and took the standard deduction, so mine was probably super simple to process. More complicated returns definitely take longer.

I legit had to contact my state rep about my MA refund last year. It had been 12 weeks and nothing was happening. Two days after my rep's office inquired - BOOM - refund processed. Don't hesitate to get your rep involved if it goes much longer.

This is why I always file MA on paper now even tho it sounds counterintuitive. Electronic took 10+ weeks three years in a row. Switched to paper filing and got my refund in 5 weeks this year. Their e-file system must be a hot mess.

2025 is the worst year I've seen for Mass tax refunds. My whole family filed around the same time (early February) and our refunds have been all over the place. Mine came in 6 weeks, my wife's took 9 weeks, and my sister is STILL waiting after 11 weeks. Calling barely helps because they just say "it's processing" and won't give details. The whole system needs an overhaul.

I'm going through the exact same thing in Massachusetts! Filed February 18th and still waiting after 8 weeks. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been stuck on "processing" this entire time with zero updates. I called twice and got the same generic "be patient, it's processing" response. What's really frustrating is that my federal refund came through in 10 days, but MA seems to be operating in slow motion this year. My refund is around $650 so similar amount to yours. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like 2025 has been exceptionally bad for MA processing times. I'm going to try calling again this week and if I don't get anywhere, might look into contacting my state rep like someone suggested. Hang in there - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!

I'm in a very similar situation - filed my MA return on February 15th and still waiting after almost 8 weeks. Federal refund came through in about 2 weeks, but the state has been radio silent. What's really annoying is that I actually called the MA DOR three times over the past month and each time got a different story. First call: "processing normally, expect 6-8 weeks." Second call: "there's a backlog, could be 10-12 weeks." Third call: "I can't see any specific issues, just keep waiting." The inconsistency is maddening! At this point I'm wondering if their customer service reps are just making up timeframes. My refund is about $920 so definitely not a small amount to just sit on. I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to someone who might have real answers. This whole situation has me questioning whether I should even bother with direct deposit next year or just request a paper check to avoid potential bank routing issues. Anyone else getting different answers every time they call MA DOR?

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my MA return on February 22nd and it's been 7+ weeks of nothing but "processing" status. My federal refund hit my account in 8 days, which makes the state delay even more maddening. What's really getting to me is how useless their phone system is. I've called four times now and gotten four completely different explanations - everything from "normal processing times" to "system upgrades" to "additional verification needed" (but they won't tell me what verification). It's like they're just throwing darts at a board of excuses. My refund is about $845, so definitely not pocket change to just sit on indefinitely. I'm seriously considering that callback service people mentioned because trying to get through normally is like banging your head against a wall. At this point I'm wondering if MA DOR is just hoping people will give up and stop calling. The lack of transparency and consistent information is absolutely unacceptable for a government agency handling our money.

I'm in the exact same boat! Filed my MA return on February 19th and it's been over 7 weeks now with nothing but that useless "processing" status. My federal came back in 9 days but the state is just sitting there doing absolutely nothing. What's really frustrating is how their phone system seems designed to discourage you from calling. I've tried three times and either get disconnected after waiting 90+ minutes or get someone who just reads me the same "be patient" script. My refund is $620 so it's definitely worth following up on. I'm honestly shocked at how many of us are dealing with this same issue. It seems like MA completely botched their processing system this year. At this point I'm seriously considering filing a complaint with the state attorney general's office if this drags on much longer. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops or pay for third-party services just to get basic information about our own tax refunds. Anyone know if there's an escalation process beyond the regular customer service line?

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation here in Massachusetts! Filed my return on February 17th and it's been over 7 weeks now with absolutely no movement beyond that generic "processing" status on their website. My federal refund came through in just 12 days, which makes the state delay even more infuriating. What really gets me is that I've called the MA DOR twice and gotten completely different information each time. First rep said 6-8 weeks is normal, second one mentioned some kind of "system modernization" causing delays but couldn't give me any specifics about my return. It's like they're just guessing at this point. My refund is around $715, so definitely not something I want to just write off. Reading through all these comments, it's clear that 2025 has been an absolute disaster for Massachusetts tax processing. The inconsistency is what bothers me most - some people getting refunds in 4 weeks while others wait 11+ weeks with identical filing dates. I'm definitely going to try that callback service people mentioned because the regular phone line seems like a complete waste of time. It's honestly embarrassing that Massachusetts can't get their basic tax processing system working properly. We shouldn't need third-party services just to get our own money back! Has anyone had any luck getting actual helpful information by escalating beyond the first-level customer service reps?