More than 2 million tax refunds have been sent out by the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Most of these refunds were sent out by the end of May. We are still working hard to process the rest of the tax returns that have been filed. This includes the ones that are being reviewed as part of our efforts to prevent refund fraud and identity theft, which could lead to a request for more information from the taxpayer. We are grateful that North Carolina taxpayers have been so patient.
To check on your North Carolina state refund status go to https://www.ncdor.gov/file-pay/refund-process
In order to view status information, you will be prompted to select the option for tax year and click “Next” then on the next page enter:
- Your Social Security number
- The exact amount of your refund
Then, click “Submit” to check your refund status.
You can also call the toll-free refund inquiry line at 1-877-252-4052, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please note: Refund checks are written weekly by the state of North Carolina. If you contact the state’s refund inquiry line and are advised that your check has not been written, wait seven days (one week) before calling the refund inquiry line again.
What can cause a delay in my North Carolina refund?
A number of things could cause a delay in receiving your North Carolina refund, including the following:
- Math errors in your return or other adjustment. If the adjustment causes a change to your refund amount, you will receive a notice.
- You used more than one form type to complete your return. The form type is identified in the top left corner of your return. Your state tax returned for you to complete using the correct form type.
- Your return was missing information or incomplete. Sometimes returns are missing information such as signatures, ID numbers, bank account information, W-2s, or 1099s. Your state return may be returned to you. You must complete the correct form type before your return can be processed.
Need more North Carolina refund and tax information?
For more information regarding your North Carolina refund, visit the following website:
Need more tax guidance?
You can count on H&R Block to help you get the tax help you need, whether you make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable tax experts or choose one of our online tax filing products.
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How can I track my North Carolina tax refund?
First, head to the NCDOR’s Where’s My Refund? webpage and select the option to check the status of your tax refund. You’ll need two pieces of information: the Social Security number that’s listed first on the return, along with the exact amount of your refund. (You should see that dollar figure on line 34 of Form D-400.)
The tool will show you when the Department of Revenue …
- Has received and is processing your return
- Has approved your refund
- Has written you a check
If your refund is approved, you can also get an estimated date of when your refund will be paid.
Prefer to speak to a human? You can call the refund inquiry line at 1-877-252-4052. But here’s a heads up: Representatives only have access to the same information you can get using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.
You can save yourself the hassle of constantly hitting the refresh button or calling the inquiry line every day — the state issues refund checks once a week. So if yours hasn’t been written yet, the Department of Revenue says to wait at least seven days before calling the refund inquiry line again.
How long will it take to get my North Carolina tax refund?
Set a calendar reminder, sit back and be patient. It typically takes up to eight weeks to get a North Carolina state tax refund for e-filed tax returns, and up to 12 weeks for paper returns.
Filers who submitted an amended state income tax return should receive an amended refund within six months from the date the return was filed.
What could delay my refund?
If it’s been longer than eight to 12 weeks since you’ve filed your North Carolina state income tax return and you still haven’t received your expected refund, it may have been delayed. There are multiple reasons why this might happen.
- There’s a math error on your return.
- You used the wrong tax form.
- Your return is missing information, such as a signature, ID number or bank account.
- You forgot to include a Form W-2 or 1099.
The state will contact you and ask for any information needed to process your return. But if it’s been more than five months since you filed an amended return, you’ll need to call 1-877-252-3052 and choose the option to speak with an agent.
Here’s some good news though: You’ll receive interest on your refund if it’s not issued within 45 days from the date the original return was due to be filed or the date that the original return was actually filed, whichever is later. That can add a little extra money to your refund.
What if my refund amount is different than what I expected?
You should see your expected refund amount on line 34 of Form D-400. The actual amount of your refund can differ from what you expected for multiple reasons, but here are two common ones.
- You owe a debt to the state government, a local agency or the IRS. If this is your situation, North Carolina will have deducted the amount owed from your state tax refund and applied it to the debt.
- The state found a mistake on your return, such as a math error or tax credits you’re not eligible to claim. If so, it could result in a lower refund or a balance due.
You should receive a notice from the Department of Revenue that explains the rationale behind the adjustment, along with contact information if you have questions. Depending on what the notice says, you may either owe a balance or be owed a refund. Call 1-877-252-3252 if you have questions.
If you disagree with the adjustment to your refund, you can challenge the Department of Revenue’s decision using Form NC-242, Objection and Request for Departmental Review.
How can I get help finding my refund?
If you should have gotten your refund already but haven't, check the Department of Revenue's website to see if the refund has been sent.
You can also call your bank to find out if the money has been put in your account. If you chose to get your refund through the mail, check your mailbox twice as well.
If you think your mailed refund check was lost or stolen, you'll need to write and sign a letter to the department asking them to stop payment on the missing check. Include your current address, Social Security number, and tax year, and ask for a stop payment or for the department to start forgery proceedings.
Once the department gets your letter, it should send you a new check in 30 to 60 days. But if someone forged your signature on the original check, it will take at least 120 days to deal with the forgery.
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