When to expect your Rhode Island and federal tax refunds in 2023
Note: This story is about the 2023 tax season. Read our story on the 2024 tax season refunds here.
With the 2023 tax season having started in January (and to end April 18), refunds are already being directly deposited into bank accounts and checks are being sent in the mail for federal and state tax refunds.
In Rhode Island, a tax return that is filed online and smoothly processed can result in a refund within two to three weeks, Assistant Tax Section Chief Carlita Annicelli told The Providence Journal.
A two to three week turnaround time for refunds has been the norm for the past three tax filing seasons and before that, the processing time was four to six weeks.
With federal returns, the typical refund is issued within 21 days, according to the IRS.
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For all tax returns, problems with paperwork can cause delays, like incomplete, missing or incorrectly filled out forms, Annicelli said.
Both Rhode Island and the federal government offer websites to check the status of a tax return.
Rhode Island's online form is at ri.gov/taxation/refund.
The IRS's form is at irs.gov/refunds.
RI Refund: Check the status of your Rhode Island tax refund
Federal Refund: Check the status of your federal tax return/refund
Haven't filed your taxes yet this year? We have a guide to break down how to avoid paying to prepare your taxes, if your gross income was below $73,000 last year and information about the IRS's program where volunteers prepare taxes for families with income below $60,000.
For everyone planning to do their taxes, we have a story on what you need to know about this year's tax season.
Advice on filing your Rhode Island tax return this year
Since 2020, Rhode Island has an individual health insurance mandate. On tax forms, it's a box that needs a check if a taxpayer had the required insurance during the previous year, but it is often overlooked.
"If they do not check off that box, there can be a delay in processing returns and a delay in the issuance of a refund," Annicelli said.
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When a return is submitted, it is reviewed within two business days. If everything is fine and a refund is owed, it goes out within two to three weeks. However, if more documentation is required, the Department of Revenue will send out a letter, giving the taxpayer 20 days to respond.
The Department of Revenue responds to emails, phone calls and mailed correspondence, but taxpayers who've already used one method, like sending an email, should wait for a reply instead of using a different way of getting in touch, she said.
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The response time to emails should be two business days, and four to five business days in the mail. When the Department of Revenue does ask for more documents, they will never ask for a Social Security number and never send out a demand letter, she said.
No extra tax on state child tax rebates
Rhode Island residents who received the child tax rebates that started going out in October, one-time payments authorized by the legislature last session, will not have to pay federal taxes on the income.
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The tax rebates were for $250 per child, up to $750 for three children. The IRS announced on Feb. 10 that the payments do not need to be reported as income on federal tax returns, as it will not "challenge the taxability" of the payments.
How Rhode Island tax refunds are sent
Rhode Island tax refunds are either sent as a direct deposit, for most online returns, or as a paper check. All paper returns are issued checks, which require a current address.
For electronic deposits, Annicelli said taxpayers should check their banking information is correct because a wrong routing or account number can cause a delay in refunds.
Refunds take longer for victims of identity theft
Victims of identity theft can expect a refund to take a little longer than two to three weeks, about an extra week, as Department of Revenue staff go through extra steps to verify the refund is going to the correct person, Annicelli said.
How to check on your federal tax refund
The IRS has a tool to check the status of a refund, starting 24 hours after it was submitted online, or four weeks after it was physically mailed.
Refunds typically take 21 days to post to an account.
The refund tool, at irs.gov/refund, is updated once a day, according to the IRS website.
The IRS also offers an app for phones and tablets, called "IRS2Go," which also can be used to check the status of a refund.
Refunds can be delayed by errors on a tax return.
Most refunds are issued within 21 days, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS.
The online refund tool will ask for the tax year, going back to 2020, your social security number, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.) and your refund amount as submitted on your tax return.
What to do if your federal refund is missing
The Taxpayer Advocate Service suggests asking for a "refund trace" if a refund check has been physically issued or direct deposit sent, but is missing and the processing time for a refund has passed.
If a check wasn't cashed, a new one will be sent and the old one will be canceled. However, if it was cashed, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service will request a claim package be filled out and will provide a copy of the cashed check, then review the claim. The process can take up to six weeks, according to the IRS.
How to check for your Massachusetts refund
Massachusetts offers an online tool to check the status of a tax refund at mtc.dor.state.ma.us/mtc
When can I check where's my refund?
You can check the status of your federal refund 24 hours after you file. The IRS states most refunds are issued in 21 days.
The IRS offers a "Where's My Refund?" tool on their website, at irs.gov/refunds. The tool is updated one time a day and is done overnight.
A mobile app, IRS2Go, also lets you check your refund. It is available for IOS, Android and in the Amazon app store.
Why haven't I got my refund date yet?
Most federal refunds are issued within 21 days, but issues that require more paperwork can delay processing. You can check the status of your federal refund 24 hours after you file. The IRS states most refunds are issued in 21 days.
How do you check if my refund has been processed?
The IRS offers a "Where's My Refund?" tool on their website, at irs.gov/refunds.
You can check the status of your federal refund 24 hours after you file. The IRS states most refunds are issued in 21 days.
A mobile app, IRS2Go, also lets you check your refund. It is available for IOS, Android and in the Amazon app store.
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Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Where's my RI tax refund in 2023? When to expect your tax refund check
