When Will I Receive My North Carolina State Income Tax Refund?

If you've filed your state tax return in North Carolina, you may be curious about when you can expect to receive your tax refund. The answer won't be the same for everyone because processing time can change based on when and how you filed. Here's a look at the four stages of return processing for the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR):

• Return Received
• Processing and Validation
• Refund Approved
• Refund Issued

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The biggest factor in determining how long the turnaround time on your refund will be is the method you used to file this year. When you file state taxes electronically in North Carolina, you can generally expect your anticipated refund to be delivered much sooner than someone who files using a paper return. A person who files electronically can actually receive a refund as soon as a week after filing. While this won't happen in every case, it's fairly common.

By contrast, someone who files a paper return by mail can expect to wait more than two months to receive a refund. The official window for tax returns provided by the NCDOR is ​six to 12 weeks​. Some common causes for delay include the use of incorrect forms, missing signatures, missing ID numbers and incorrect banking information.

If you will be receiving a different amount than you expected due to an adjustment made by the NDCOR, you will receive something called a Notice of Adjustment explaining the changes behind your new refund total.

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If you're eager to receive your North Carolina tax refund quickly, there is a strategy you can use. First, make the decision to electronically file your taxes to speed up the process. Next, try to file your return as early as possible once you receive all of the necessary tax documents for filing. Many people don't realize that filing closer to the tax deadline on April 15 actually lengthens the turnaround time for tax refunds.

The volume of refunds going out simply increases as Tax Day approaches. As a result, it takes longer for the tax department to process and send returns. Extra time is also added to the process because measures are taken to protect your return by completing screenings for identity theft.

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If it's been a few weeks since you filed your return, you may be wondering why your return appears to be missing. First, this could just be a routine delay that isn't indicative of any issues with your return being lost or mishandled. The NCDOR provides a special portal that allows taxpayers to make inquiries regarding tax return status.

To access your refund status online, you'll need to supply both the Social Security number shown on the return and exact refund total from D-400 Line 34. If you're unable to access the Internet to check the status of your return, you can also call ​1-877-252-4052​ to complete an inquiry over the phone. Information provided both online and over the phone is updated daily at 6 p.m.

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