Where's My Refund? | .gov

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Refund

If you’ve paid too much tax, you may be able to get a refund.

• Refund
• Refunds for businesses
• Help with refunds

Related content

• Lea esta página en español
• Check your refund status with FTB mobile app

Where’s my refund

You may be able to get a tax refund if you’ve paid too much tax. Use this service to check your refund status.

Before you start

What you’ll need:

• Social Security number
• ZIP Code
• Your exact refund amount
• Numbers in your mailing address

If your mailing address is 1234 Main Street, the numbers are 1234.

How long it normally takes to receive a refund

• e-file: Up to 3 weeks
• Paper: Up to 3 months

Some tax returns need extra review for accuracy, completeness, and to protect taxpayers from fraud and identity theft. Extra processing time may be necessary.

If you received a refund amount different than the amount on your tax return, we’ll mail you a letter. Wait for that letter before you contact us.

Prior year refunds

You must contact us to check the status of a prior year tax refund.

Last updated: 2/2/2026

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