New Jersey Refund Still Processing - Anyone Else Experiencing Delays?
I'm trying to track my New Jersey refund status and wanted to see if anyone else is experiencing delays. Here's what I've done so far: 1. Filed electronically on February 15th, 2024 (verified acceptance same day) 2. Used professional software with all documentation properly attached 3. Checked the NJ Division of Taxation website which shows status as "processing" 4. Verified my banking information is correct 5. Confirmed no errors or amendments needed I typically receive my refund within 2-3 weeks, but it's been over 6 weeks now. My federal refund (significantly larger amount) already arrived three weeks ago. I've budgeted this refund for some targeted investments, so I'm curious about the timeline I should expect. Anyone else from NJ experiencing similar delays this year?
30 comments


Ellie Simpson
NJ refunds are definitely running behind this year. My return has been stuck in processing since January 29th. Have you checked if there are any specific error codes on your account? Did you file with any special credits or deductions that might trigger additional review? I've noticed returns with property tax credits seem to be taking longer this year.
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Arjun Kurti
I'm in the same boat with my NJ return and getting worried about when I'll see that money. • Filed on Feb 1st • Still showing as "processing" on the NJ site • Called the tax department twice but just got recordings • Need this money for bills coming due next month I finally got some clarity using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It showed that my return was flagged for a standard verification process (nothing wrong!) and gave me an estimated completion date based on current NJ processing patterns.
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Raúl Mora
•Is that site actually legitimate? It's like trying to read tea leaves from a tax transcript. Isn't this just like those psychics who make vague predictions that could apply to anyone? My tax situation feels like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded.
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Margot Quinn
•According to N.J.A.C. 18:35-6.1, New Jersey is required to process returns within a reasonable timeframe, but there's no specific statutory deadline. Does taxr.ai actually access official state processing data or is it making educated guesses based on historical patterns? I appreciate any insights on this tool's methodology.
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Evelyn Kim
NJ resident here too! I was stuck in the same "processing" limbo for nearly 7 weeks. Started feeling like my refund was vacationing in Atlantic City without me! 😂 Finally got fed up and used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an actual human at the NJ Division of Taxation. Got through in about 15 minutes instead of the usual 2-hour hold time. The agent confirmed my return was just in a backlog and released it that day. Refund showed up 3 days later! Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone.
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Diego Fisher
I filed my NJ return on February 3rd, 2024, and received my refund on March 29th, 2024 - so exactly 55 days of processing time. My neighbor filed on February 10th and is still waiting. The NJ Division of Taxation updated their website on April 2nd stating they're experiencing higher than normal processing times due to increased fraud prevention measures. They're currently prioritizing returns filed before March 1st.
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Henrietta Beasley
This is a statewide issue. New Jersey implemented new verification systems this year. They're targeting returns with specific criteria. Higher-income filers face more scrutiny. Property tax rebate claims trigger reviews. Returns with schedule C income get additional verification. Most returns are completing in 45-60 days now. Expect movement soon if you're past the 6-week mark.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•I've been through delays before, but this year seems particularly bad. Have you heard if there's any pattern to which returns are getting processed first? Last year I noticed that simpler returns with just W-2 income seemed to go through faster than those with investment income or business deductions.
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Faith Kingston
•I've been tracking this pretty closely. Out of 14 friends and family members who filed NJ returns, the 8 with only W-2 income received refunds in exactly 32 days on average. The 6 with additional income sources (Schedule B, C, D, or E) are all still waiting at 47+ days. The NJ Division of Taxation phone representative confirmed they're prioritizing less complex returns first, exactly as you suspected.
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Emma Johnson
•According to the NJ Division of Taxation website (https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/), they recommend waiting at least 12 weeks before inquiring about refund status this year. I'd be careful about calling too early - some online forums suggest that calling repeatedly can sometimes flag your return for additional review, though I can't verify if that's actually true or just a myth.
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Liam Brown
NJ resident here w/ similar experience. Filed Feb 7th. Fed refund arrived Feb 28th. NJ still MIA as of today. Called last week and rep confirmed they're backed up AF this year. Said returns w/ property tax rebates (which I have) are taking ~8-10 wks minimum. Apparently they're manually reviewing a ton of returns bc of fraud concerns. Hang tight - you're def not alone in this!
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Olivia Garcia
Consider utilizing the NJ Taxation Regional Information Centers for in-person assistance. These offices can provide real-time status updates beyond what's available online. Bring your filing confirmation, ID, and any correspondence received. The Trenton and Newark offices typically have shorter wait times than Camden or Northfield. Some taxpayers report success requesting expedited processing when facing documented financial hardship.
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Aria Khan
I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Filed my NJ return on February 12th and it's still showing "processing" status. Federal refund came through weeks ago, but NJ is dragging their feet. What's particularly frustrating is that I called the NJ Division of Taxation hotline three times over the past two weeks and each time I either got disconnected after an hour-long hold or reached someone who could only tell me "your return is being processed" without any timeline. My return is pretty straightforward - just W-2 income and standard deductions, no property tax credits or business income. Based on what others are saying here, it sounds like even simple returns are taking 8+ weeks this year. Has anyone had success with visiting the regional offices in person? I'm considering driving to the Trenton office if it means getting some actual answers about when I can expect my refund.
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Connor Gallagher
•I visited the Trenton office last month when I was in a similar situation and it was actually really helpful! I went around 2 PM on a Tuesday and only waited about 30 minutes. The representative was able to pull up my account and explained that my return was in a "secondary review queue" - apparently they're doing additional verification on a lot of returns this year, even simple ones. She couldn't expedite it, but gave me a realistic timeline of 2-3 more weeks, which turned out to be accurate. I'd definitely recommend going in person if you can swing it - way better than those frustrating phone calls!
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Carmen Ortiz
I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my NJ return on February 8th and it's been stuck in "processing" purgatory ever since. My federal refund arrived in early March, but NJ seems to be operating on their own timeline. What's really annoying is that I have a pretty simple return - just W-2 income, standard deduction, and the property tax deduction. No business income, no complicated schedules, nothing that should trigger extra scrutiny. Yet here I am at 7+ weeks and counting. I tried calling the NJ Division of Taxation last week and after being on hold for 90 minutes, the rep basically just read me the same "your return is processing" message I can see online. Super helpful, right? 🙄 Based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like this is just the new normal for NJ this year. I guess I'll keep checking the website religiously and hope my refund shows up before summer! Has anyone found any reliable way to get an actual timeline estimate, or are we all just playing the waiting game?
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Keisha Brown
•I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed on February 10th and still waiting. The most frustrating part is how inconsistent the information is - one rep told me 6-8 weeks, another said 10-12 weeks, and the website just says "processing." I've been tracking my status daily and noticed something interesting: the "Where's My Refund" tool on the NJ site actually updates the "last updated" timestamp even when the status doesn't change. Mine has been updating every few days, which makes me think they're actively working on it rather than it just sitting in a pile somewhere. Has anyone else noticed their timestamp changing even though the status stays the same? Trying to find any glimmer of hope that movement is happening behind the scenes! 😅
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Daniela Rossi
I'm in exactly the same boat! Filed my NJ return on February 20th and it's still showing "processing" with no end in sight. What's really getting to me is that I have several friends who filed around the same time - some got their refunds in 4 weeks, others are still waiting like us. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I called twice last week and both times the representatives basically told me "it's in the system, just wait." One did mention that they're doing enhanced fraud prevention this year, which is causing delays across the board. Apparently even straightforward returns are getting caught up in their new verification processes. The timing is particularly frustrating because I was counting on this refund for some planned home repairs before spring. At this point I'm wondering if I should just move forward with other financing options rather than keep waiting indefinitely. Has anyone who was in a similar timeline seen their refund come through recently, or are we all still in limbo together?
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Sofia Torres
•I'm in a very similar situation - filed on February 18th and still waiting! It's so frustrating how random the processing seems to be. I've been wondering if there are certain factors that might be causing some returns to move faster than others, even among simple W-2 returns. One thing I noticed is that my friend who got her refund quickly filed using TurboTax, while I used H&R Block online. I'm probably grasping at straws here, but I'm curious if the software used or even the order returns were received that day makes any difference in processing priority. @Daniela Rossi - I totally understand the frustration about the home repairs! I m'in a similar spot with some planned expenses. At this point I m'trying to mentally prepare for the possibility that it could take the full 10-12 weeks some reps have mentioned. Hopefully we ll'all see movement soon though! 🤞
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Anna Stewart
I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating delay! Filed my NJ return on February 22nd and still stuck in processing limbo. What's particularly annoying is that my return is super straightforward - just W-2 income from one employer and standard deductions, yet it's been over 6 weeks now. I actually tried a different approach last week and reached out to my state assemblyman's office. They have a constituent services department that can sometimes help with state agency issues. The staffer I spoke with said they've been getting a lot of calls about NJ tax refund delays and are planning to reach out to the Division of Taxation for answers about the processing backlog. It might be worth contacting your local representatives too - if enough constituents complain, maybe they'll put some pressure on the tax department to be more transparent about their timelines. I know it's a long shot, but at this point I'm willing to try anything to get some actual answers instead of the generic "it's processing" responses we keep getting! Hang in there everyone - hopefully we'll all see movement soon. The waiting game is definitely testing my patience! 😤
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Noah Torres
•That's actually a really smart approach! I never thought about reaching out to my assemblyman's office about this. I'm also stuck in the same processing limbo (filed Feb 19th) and getting nowhere with the standard channels. @Anna Stewart - Do you mind sharing which assemblyman s'office you contacted? I d'love to try the same thing with my local rep. It makes total sense that if they re'getting flooded with constituent complaints, they might be able to get some real answers from the Division of Taxation about what s'causing these massive delays. I m'definitely going to give this a shot - worst case scenario they can t'help, but at least it s'a different avenue to try. Thanks for sharing this idea! Fingers crossed that collective pressure from multiple districts might actually move the needle on getting some transparency about processing timelines.
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Amara Chukwu
I'm experiencing the exact same delays with my NJ refund! Filed on February 16th and still showing "processing" status after 7+ weeks. My federal refund came through in early March, but NJ is definitely dragging their feet this year. What's been particularly helpful for me is keeping a detailed log of when I check the status and any timestamp changes on the NJ "Where's My Refund" tool. I've noticed the system updates every 3-4 days even when the status doesn't change, which gives me some hope that they're actively working through the backlog rather than returns just sitting idle. I also tried the approach that @Anna Stewart mentioned about contacting my assemblyman's office - I reached out to Assemblyman Raj Mukherji's constituent services team last week. They confirmed they've been getting tons of calls about NJ refund delays and said they're compiling a list to present to the Division of Taxation. Definitely worth trying with your local representatives! From what I'm seeing in this thread, it seems like most people are hitting the 8-10 week mark before seeing movement, regardless of how simple their returns are. Frustrating, but at least we're all in this together! Hopefully the collective pressure will get us some real answers soon.
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Hazel Garcia
•I'm so glad I found this thread! I filed on February 25th and have been feeling like I was going crazy waiting for my NJ refund. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this frustrating process. @Amara Chukwu - That s'a great idea about keeping a detailed log! I m'going to start tracking the timestamp changes too. I never thought to pay attention to those backend updates, but it does give some reassurance that our returns aren t'just sitting in a digital filing cabinet somewhere. I m'definitely going to reach out to my local assemblyman as well. If multiple districts are getting flooded with complaints, maybe that will finally push the Division of Taxation to be more transparent about what s'really causing these delays and give us realistic timelines instead of the vague processing "status." It s'frustrating that even the simplest W-2 returns are taking 8+ weeks, but at least now I know to mentally prepare for the long haul instead of checking the website every day hoping for a miracle. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we re'all dealing with the same broken system!
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Mei Lin
I'm right there with everyone else experiencing these frustrating NJ refund delays! Filed my return on February 14th and still stuck in "processing" status after 8+ weeks. Like many others here, my federal refund arrived weeks ago while NJ seems to be operating in slow motion. What's been most helpful from reading through this thread is realizing this is a systemic issue affecting everyone, not just something wrong with my specific return. The idea about contacting local assemblyman offices is brilliant - I'm definitely going to reach out to my district representative this week. I've also started keeping track of the timestamp updates on the NJ "Where's My Refund" tool like @Amara Chukwu suggested. Mine has been updating every few days even though the status stays the same, which does give me some hope that there's actual movement happening behind the scenes. For anyone else dealing with this - it sounds like the 8-10 week timeframe is becoming the new normal this year, unfortunately. At least we're all suffering through this together! Hopefully the collective pressure from constituents contacting their representatives will push the Division of Taxation to be more transparent about their processing issues and realistic timelines.
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Natasha Volkova
•I'm in the exact same situation and it's honestly reassuring to see I'm not alone in this mess! Filed on February 12th and approaching the 9-week mark with nothing but that generic "processing" status. @Mei Lin - Thanks for mentioning the timestamp tracking idea! I just checked mine and you re'right - it updated yesterday even though the status hasn t'changed in weeks. It s'a small comfort knowing there s'some activity happening in the background. I m'definitely going to try the assemblyman route too. At this point, I figure we need all the pressure we can put on the Division of Taxation to get some real answers. It s'ridiculous that simple W-2 returns are taking longer than complex business filings used to take! The most frustrating part is having to completely restructure my financial planning around this delay. I budgeted that refund for specific expenses and now I m'juggling other funds to cover things. Here s'hoping we all see movement in the next week or two - crossing my fingers we re'near the end of this waiting game! 🤞
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Ryder Everingham
I'm going through the exact same frustrating experience! Filed my NJ return on February 11th and it's been stuck in "processing" status for over 8 weeks now. Federal refund arrived in early March, but NJ is clearly operating on a completely different timeline this year. What's really getting to me is how inconsistent the information is from different sources. The website just says "processing," phone reps give vague 6-12 week estimates, and there's no real transparency about what's causing these massive delays. I have a straightforward W-2 return with standard deductions - nothing that should require extensive review. I'm definitely going to try the assemblyman contact approach that several people mentioned here. If enough constituents are complaining, maybe we can get some real pressure on the Division of Taxation to explain what's actually happening and provide realistic timelines instead of generic responses. The timestamp tracking idea is genius too - I just checked mine and it has been updating regularly even though the status never changes. At least that suggests some backend activity is happening rather than our returns just sitting in a digital pile somewhere. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know this is a widespread systemic issue and not something specific to individual returns. Hopefully we'll all see movement soon! The waiting game is definitely testing everyone's patience at this point.
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Millie Long
•I'm dealing with the exact same situation and honestly, reading through everyone's experiences here has been both frustrating and comforting at the same time! Filed my NJ return on February 18th and I'm now at the 8+ week mark with nothing but that dreaded "processing" status. @Ryder Everingham - You re'absolutely right about how inconsistent the information is from different sources. I called last week and got told 6-8 "weeks but" then read online that some people are being told up to 12 weeks. It s'like they re'just throwing out random numbers at this point! What s'particularly annoying is that I specifically chose to file electronically thinking it would be faster, and even paid extra for rapid "processing through" my tax software. Clearly that was money down the drain! I m'definitely going to contact my assemblyman s'office this week too. At this point, collective action seems like our best bet for getting real answers instead of the standard runaround. It s'ridiculous that we re'all having to become amateur investigators just to figure out when we might see our own money back. The timestamp tracking has been my only source of sanity - at least seeing those backend updates gives me hope that something is actually happening with our returns instead of them just sitting in digital purgatory forever!
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QuantumQuasar
I'm experiencing the exact same delays with my NJ refund! Filed on February 28th and still stuck in processing after 6+ weeks. What's really frustrating is that I called the NJ Division of Taxation yesterday and after a 75-minute hold, the representative told me they're implementing "enhanced fraud detection protocols" this year that are causing massive backlogs even for simple returns. The rep mentioned that they're manually reviewing returns that would normally be processed automatically, which explains why even straightforward W-2 filers are seeing 8-10 week delays. She couldn't give me a specific timeline but said to expect at least 2-3 more weeks minimum. I'm definitely going to try the assemblyman contact approach that others have mentioned here - it sounds like that might be our best shot at getting real pressure on the Division of Taxation to address this systematic problem. At this point, the collective frustration from all of us dealing with these delays needs to translate into actual accountability from the state agency responsible for this mess. Thanks for creating this thread - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not alone in this waiting game, even though the situation itself is incredibly frustrating! 🤦♀️
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Noland Curtis
•I'm so glad I found this thread! I filed my NJ return on March 2nd and was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my return when it didn't show up after the usual 3-4 weeks. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize this is just the unfortunate new reality for NJ this year. @QuantumQuasar - That explanation about the "enhanced fraud detection protocols" actually makes a lot of sense, even though it's frustrating. I guess it's better that they're being thorough to prevent fraud, but the lack of communication about expected timelines is really poor customer service on their part. As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how everyone is sharing practical solutions like contacting assemblyman offices and tracking timestamp changes. I'm definitely going to try both approaches! It's encouraging to see people working together to find ways to get answers instead of just complaining into the void. I'm mentally preparing myself for the 8-10 week timeline everyone seems to be hitting, which would put me around early May. At least now I can plan accordingly instead of checking the website every day hoping for a miracle. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips! 🙏
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Skylar Neal
I'm in the exact same situation and it's so frustrating! Filed my NJ return on February 19th and it's been stuck in "processing" for over 7 weeks now. My federal refund arrived in early March, but NJ seems to be moving at a snail's pace this year. What really annoys me is that I have a super simple return - just W-2 income from one employer and standard deductions. No business income, no complex schedules, nothing that should trigger additional scrutiny. Yet here I am waiting just like everyone else with more complicated returns. I tried calling the NJ Division of Taxation twice last week and both times I sat on hold for over an hour only to be told "your return is processing, please continue to wait." The second rep at least mentioned they're doing enhanced verification this year due to fraud concerns, but couldn't give any realistic timeline beyond "several more weeks." The timestamp tracking idea that others mentioned is brilliant - I just checked and mine has been updating every few days even though the status never changes. At least that gives me some hope that there's actual activity happening behind the scenes rather than our returns just sitting in a digital pile somewhere. I'm definitely going to reach out to my assemblyman's office this week too. If enough of us are complaining to our representatives, maybe we can finally get some real pressure on the Division of Taxation to be more transparent about their processing issues and provide realistic timelines instead of these vague responses. Thanks for starting this thread - it's oddly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess, even though the situation itself is incredibly frustrating! Hopefully we'll all see movement soon. 🤞
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Yuki Nakamura
•I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my NJ return on February 23rd and approaching the 7-week mark with nothing but that generic "processing" status. @Skylar Neal - Your experience sounds identical to mine - simple W-2 return, one employer, standard deductions, yet still caught up in whatever verification process they re'running this year. It s'honestly mind-boggling that straightforward returns are taking longer than complex business filings used to take! I just started tracking the timestamp updates like others suggested and you re'right - there is regular backend activity happening every few days. That s'literally the only thing keeping me sane right now because at least it shows our returns aren t'just sitting in digital limbo. As someone new to this community, I m'really impressed by the practical solutions people are sharing. I m'definitely going to contact my assemblyman s'office this week - the fact that multiple people here have had success with that approach gives me hope that collective pressure might actually work. The lack of transparency from the Division of Taxation is really unacceptable. We deserve realistic timelines instead of generic keep "waiting responses." Thanks everyone for creating such a helpful discussion thread! 🙏
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