Still Waiting on CA State Refund Filed February 4th - Anyone Else?

You're definitely not alone. My CA refund took 11 weeks last year, which was way longer than the federal processing time. This year is looking even worse - I filed 1/29 and still waiting while my federal came in less than 3 weeks. It's like CA FTB operates in a completely different timeframe than the IRS. The "being processed" status might as well say "we'll get to it eventually." I finally got through to someone at FTB last week who said they're experiencing "higher than normal processing volumes" - which seems to be their standard excuse every year.

I've been tracking CA FTB processing times for the past few years and this season is definitely showing unusual patterns. Here's what I've found: • Normal processing: 2-3 weeks for direct deposit (pre-pandemic) • Current average: 8-12 weeks for many filers • Amended returns: Add 4-6 additional weeks minimum • Returns with credits: Additional verification adding 2-3 weeks I've been using https://taxr.ai to analyze both my federal and state transcripts. It's been incredibly helpful for decoding the status codes on my CA transcript and providing actual timeline predictions rather than the vague "processing" message on the FTB site. The analysis showed my return was in the "manual review" queue despite no obvious errors, which explained the delay.

I was in the exact same situation but finally got my CA refund yesterday! Filed 2/5, so almost identical timing to you. According to CA Revenue and Taxation Code Section 19133.5, the FTB is required to process refunds within 45 days of the filing deadline (or from the date filed if after the deadline) before they owe interest. In my case, I received no interest despite waiting over 60 days from filing. When I called, they cited "reasonable cause" exception under Section 19132(a)(1) due to high volume, which exempts them from the interest requirement.

California's processing timeline is currently averaging 63 days for returns with amended schedules, compared to 21 days for standard returns. I've been tracking exactly 147 data points from various forums and social media. For returns filed in early February like yours, 78.3% are still waiting for refunds as of April 15th. After 6 failed attempts to reach FTB (average hold time: 97 minutes), I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to a representative in 14 minutes. They confirmed my return was flagged for manual review due to an income verification issue but couldn't provide a timeline. At least I know why it's delayed now instead of wondering if it was lost in their system.

The California FTB is like that restaurant that tells you the wait is "just 15 more minutes" for two hours straight. I've been waiting since February 7th for my refund, and it's been like watching paint dry on a rainy day. Their online system is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot - just says "processing" with no actual information. I'm surprised they don't still use carrier pigeons to send the refunds. I was shocked when I learned they have a completely separate verification system from the IRS - so even though the feds approved everything, California starts the whole verification process from scratch!

I'm in the same situation and starting to worry. Does anyone know if having an amended return automatically triggers a longer review? Will this delay affect my ability to file next year? What happens if they find an error - do they just adjust the refund amount or reject the whole return? I've never had to wait this long before and I'm getting nervous that something is wrong with my filing.

According to the FTB's own website (https://www.ftb.ca.gov/refund/index.asp), they claim 98% of error-free returns with direct deposit are processed within 2 weeks. That's clearly not happening based on all these comments. I spent 3 hours last Tuesday trying different options on their phone system and finally got through to someone who admitted they're dealing with staffing shortages and a new processing system rollout that's causing delays. They recommended NOT filing an amended return or duplicate return as that will reset your place in line. Just keep checking the Where's My Refund tool and wait it out, as frustrating as that is.

I might be able to offer some potentially helpful information. After waiting approximately 9 weeks for my California refund (filed February 1st), I received it somewhat unexpectedly last Thursday. What seemed to possibly make a difference was checking my FTB account online rather than just using the refund status tool. In my account, I could see that they had actually adjusted my refund amount slightly (reduced by about $42, presumably due to a calculation error on my part), which may have been part of what was causing the delay. It might be worth checking your FTB online account if you haven't already, as it sometimes contains more detailed information than the basic refund status checker.