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Need a direct number for state tax department - can't get through regular channels

I've been trying to call the standard number for my state tax department for weeks now but keep hitting dead ends. Every time I call, I get put on hold for at least an hour before getting disconnected. I filed my state tax return in April 2024 and still haven't received my refund (it's now August). The online system just says "processing" with no additional info. Does anyone have a direct number or extension I can call to actually speak with someone about my state tax return? I'm starting to get worried something's wrong with my filing.

Harold Oh

Each state has different tax departments with different contact numbers. Which state are you trying to reach? That information would help us direct you to the right resources. Generally speaking, state tax departments are notoriously understaffed, especially during peak filing seasons. Most states have dedicated refund inquiry lines separate from their general customer service. Have you checked your state's department of revenue website for alternative contact methods? Many also offer email support or even chat services now. You can also try calling right when they open in the morning - usually around 8 AM - as that's typically when wait times are shortest. Avoid calling on Mondays and Fridays when call volumes tend to be highest.

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Payton Black

Sorry, should've mentioned I'm in Colorado. I've tried the refund hotline, general inquiries, everything on their website. Always the same result - endless hold then disconnection. Even tried early morning calls.

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25d

Harold Oh

For Colorado specifically, try 303-238-7378 which is their dedicated tax information line. Call Tuesday-Thursday between 8:30-9:30am for best results. If that doesn't work, you can also try scheduling an in-person appointment through their website.

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23d

Payton Black

Thanks! I'll give that specific number a try tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed šŸ¤ž

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21d

Amun-Ra Azra

I was in a similar situation trying to figure out what was happening with my state refund. Spent weeks getting nowhere. Then I found this tool called taxr.ai that helped me actually understand what was going on with my taxes. It scans your tax documents and explains everything in plain English - including state tax issues. It was insanely helpful for me to understand exactly what the holdup was with my refund. You should check it out at https://taxr.ai - saved me hours of frustration.

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Summer Green

Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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24d

Amun-Ra Azra

It does way more than just read transcripts. You upload any tax docs (returns, notices, etc) and it analyzes everything, explains what each code means, identifies issues, and gives you clear next steps. It even pointed out a mistake on my state return that was causing the delay. Best tax tool I've ever used honestly.

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23d

Summer Green

OMG THANK YOU for sharing this! Just tried taxr.ai and it immediately showed me why my state refund was held up - apparently I had a missing schedule that I had no idea about. Would have NEVER figured this out on my own! This tool is a literal lifesaver for anyone dealing with tax problems!!!

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21d

Gael Robinson

I had the exact same issue with my state refund last month. After weeks of failed attempts calling the main number, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual human at my state tax office within 30 minutes. Best money I've ever spent to finally get my questions answered - the agent I spoke with was able to release my refund immediately once I explained the situation. Sitting on hold for hours vs getting a real person quickly... easy choice.

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Edward McBride

sounds like a scam tbh... how does it even work? šŸ¤”

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23d

Gael Robinson

Not a scam at all. They basically navigate the phone tree for you and hold your place in line. When they reach an agent, they call you and connect you. I was skeptical too but was desperate after waiting 3+ months for my refund. The agent immediately saw the issue and fixed it.

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21d

Darcy Moore

Can confirm this works. Used it last week after my state refund was stuck for 2 months. Got through to someone who actually helped instead of the usual runaround.

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20d

Dana Doyle

Have you tried contacting your state representative? When I couldn't get anywhere with my state tax office, I reached out to my local rep and their office has staff dedicated to helping constituents with government issues. They contacted the tax department on my behalf and suddenly my refund was processed within days. Worth a shot!

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Liam Duke

The whole tax system is a joke... federal AND state. Been waiting on my state refund since February šŸ˜” Called a million times and got nowhere. Finally had to hire a tax advocate to help me, cost me $350 but at least they're actually making progress. The government is happy to take our money instantly but when it comes to giving refunds suddenly everything moves at a snail's pace.

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Manny Lark

Preach! šŸ™Œ I'm convinced they intentionally make it difficult to get refunds hoping people will just give up.

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21d

Liam Duke

100%. And the whole "we're understaffed" excuse is getting old. They seem to have plenty of staff when it comes to auditing people or sending collection notices!

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19d

Rita Jacobs

It's because they're investing all resources into enforcement instead of customer service. The new IRS funding bill specifically targeted more audits, not better service.

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19d

Khalid Howes

Instead of calling 100 times and getting nowhere, check if your state has a Taxpayer Advocate Service like the IRS does. Many states have their own version that can help if you're experiencing hardship due to delay. Also most states have specific criteria for when they review refunds more carefully - usually large refunds or certain credits claimed. Look up your state's refund review triggers and see if any apply to you.

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Ben Cooper

I literally just resolved this exact problem last week! My state refund was stuck for 3 months. I used this app called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a real human at the state tax department in like 20 minutes. Turns out there was a simple verification issue they needed to clear up. Talking to an agent got my refund released so fast - it was deposited 48 hours later. Wish I had known about this months ago instead of wasting hours on hold.

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Naila Gordon

another day another app promising the impossible šŸ™„ what's the catch?

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19d

Ben Cooper

No catch - they just handle the hold time for you. I was super skeptical too but it actually works. After 3 months of getting nowhere I was willing to try anything. The state tax person I talked to was surprised I got through so quickly lol

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19d

Cynthia Love

Just tried this after seeing your comment and it ACTUALLY WORKED. Got through to my state tax department in 35 mins when I'd been trying for weeks with no luck. Agent confirmed my refund was delayed for ID verification but they never sent me the notice šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø Now it's being processed!

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19d

Darren Brooks

Pro tip: Don't waste time with the general helpline. Go directly to your state's Department of Revenue website and look for the Taxpayer Advocate office or Taxpayer Rights office. Most states have one, and they're specifically there to help when normal channels aren't working. They can often do more than regular phone agents.

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Payton Black

Thanks, I didn't know about the taxpayer advocate option for state issues - thought that was just an IRS thing. Will definitely look into this!

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19d

Rosie Harper

Have u checked ur state's where's my refund tool? Most states have an online tracker similar to the IRS one. Might give u more info than just "processing" depending on the state. Also did u e-file or paper file? Paper returns take WAAAY longer to process.

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Payton Black

I e-filed and yes, I've been checking the tracker obsessively. All it says is "Your return is being processed" with no additional details. That's why I need to talk to someone directly.

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19d

Rosie Harper

gotcha. that sux. might be worth checkin if there were any state filing errors too. sometimes the acceptance of the return doesnt mean everything was good to go. ive seen people with math errors or missing forms that cause silent delays.

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19d

Elliott luviBorBatman

I had a major breakthrough with my state tax issue using taxr.ai to understand what was actually going on. I had been stuck in limbo for months with no updates. The tool analyzed my documents and pinpointed exactly why my refund was delayed - turns out there was a mismatch between my reported W2 income and what my employer submitted to the state. Would have never figured this out on my own! Highly recommend checking out https://taxr.ai if you're stuck in tax purgatory.

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Demi Hall

never heard of this... does it actually work for state tax issues or just federal?

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19d

Elliott luviBorBatman

Works for both! I was surprised too. It analyzes whatever documents you upload - state returns, federal returns, notices from either, etc. The explanation it gave me about my state tax issue was clearer than anything I got from calling.

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19d

Demi Hall

Just tried this and I'm blown away. It found a calculation error on my state return that was causing my delay. Fixed it, submitted an amended return, and now my status finally updated! Why don't more people know about taxr.ai?? This should be way more popular.

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19d

Mateusius Townsend

what state r u in? different states have different processes and some are WAY worse than others. Try social media too - some state tax departments actually respond faster on Twitter than they do to phone calls lol

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Kara Yoshida

I spent literally 6 HOURS on hold with my state tax department last month trying to figure out why my refund was 4 months late. When I finally got through, they told me there was a "verification issue" they could have resolved in 5 minutes if I'd known about it. The whole system is broken beyond belief. You basically need to be a detective to get your own money back.

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Philip Cowan

THIS. They put the entire burden on us to figure out what's wrong. No notifications, no clear explanations, just "processing" for months on end.

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19d

Kara Yoshida

Exactly! And then when you finally reach someone they act like you should have known about whatever obscure issue is holding things up. The lack of transparency is infuriating.

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Caesar Grant

check if ur state has a dedicated refund inquiry line - its usually different from the general tax questions number. also worth trying their email support if they have it. sometimes you get better results than phone

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Lena Schultz

LIFEHACK: try the collections department instead of customer service! I couldn't get through on the regular line for weeks, but called the number for making payments and got through in minutes. Explained I was calling about my refund and they still helped me. Worth a shot!

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Gemma Andrews

omg that's genius... they always pick up when they think you're giving them money šŸ˜‚

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19d

Lena Schultz

Works every time! I've done this with both IRS and state tax departments. They'll usually transfer you to the right department once you're in the system rather than making you call back.

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19d

Pedro Sawyer

I was stuck in the same exact situation with my state refund last tax season. After trying everything imaginable, I discovered taxr.ai and it completely changed the game. I uploaded my state return and within minutes it explained exactly why my refund was delayed - I had incorrectly reported a credit that triggered additional review. Once I understood the real issue, I was able to fix it and my refund was processed within days. Seriously, check out https://taxr.ai - it's like having a tax pro decode everything for you.

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Mae Bennett

how much does somethng like this cost? sounds expensive

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19d

Pedro Sawyer

It's actually super reasonable considering what you get. They have different plans depending on what you need. The peace of mind alone was worth it for me - no more guessing games about what's happening with my taxes.

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Beatrice Marshall

Can this handle complicated tax situations? I have multiple state returns and self-employment income.

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Pedro Sawyer

Absolutely! It's actually designed for more complex situations. It can analyze multiple returns, notices, and documents together to give you the full picture. I've recommended it to several self-employed friends who were all impressed.

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Melina Haruko

Nobody seems to be mentioning this, but have you checked if your state has a local office you can visit in person? I had a similar issue and was getting nowhere by phone, so I just showed up at my state's regional tax office. Had to wait about an hour, but finally talked to someone who resolved my issue on the spot. Sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get results in this broken system.

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Payton Black

That's a good idea - I checked and there is a regional office about 45 minutes from me. Might be worth the drive at this point.

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19d