Check your refund status through the Illinois Department of Revenue website
The Illinois Department of Revenue runs a refund tracker that tells you exactly where your return stands. Go to tax.illinois.gov and look for the "Where's My Refund?" tool — it's on the homepage. You'll need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married, head of household), and the exact refund amount you expect. The tool updates every 24 hours, so checking multiple times in the same day won't give you new information.
The tracker shows one of four statuses: received, under review, approved, or issued. "Received" means the Department has your return but hasn't started processing it yet. "Under review" means they're checking your information — this is the longest phase and can take weeks. "Approved" means they've verified everything and your refund is being prepared. "Issued" means the money has been sent out, either by direct deposit or check.
If the tool says your return is still under review after 21 days, something in your return needs attention. This could be a missing document, a math error, or a mismatch between what you reported and what your employer or bank reported to the state. The Department will send you a letter explaining what they need, but that letter can take 5 to 10 business days to arrive after the status changes.
Key Takeaways
- The Illinois Department of Revenue's "Where's My Refund?" tool at tax.illinois.gov is the only official source for your refund status and updates every 24 hours.
- If your refund shows "under review" after 21 days, the Department is asking for more information and will mail you a letter explaining what they need.
- Direct deposit refunds typically arrive within 5 to 10 business days after the status changes to "issued," while paper checks take 2 to 3 weeks.
- If you filed a paper return instead of electronically, add 4 to 6 weeks to normal processing time because the Department must scan and enter your information manually.
- Contact the Department's taxpayer information line at 217-782-3336 only if the tracker shows "issued" but you haven't received the money after the expected timeframe.
Understand why your refund is taking longer than expected
Illinois processes most returns within 21 days if you filed electronically and everything on your return matches what employers and banks reported. If your refund is still pending after that window, the Department has flagged something that needs manual review. Common reasons include a missing W-2 or 1099 form, a discrepancy in your income or withholding, a dependent claimed on your return that doesn't match Social Security records, or an error in your bank account information for direct deposit.
If you filed a paper return by mail, add 4 to 6 weeks to the normal timeline. The Department has to open your envelope, scan every page, and manually enter the information into their system before processing even begins. During tax season (January through April), paper returns move even slower because the volume is highest.
Refunds are also delayed if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Federal law requires the IRS to hold all refunds that include these credits until mid-February, even if you filed in January. Illinois follows the same rule, so your state refund won't be issued until the federal hold lifts.
What to do if your refund shows "approved" but hasn't arrived
Once the Department marks your refund as "issued," the money is out of their hands. If you chose direct deposit, the funds should land in your bank account within 5 to 10 business days. If you're receiving a paper check, allow 2 to 3 weeks from the "issued" date for it to arrive by mail.
If more than 10 business days have passed since "issued" and you haven't seen a direct deposit, call the Department's taxpayer information line at 217-782-3336. Have your Social Security number and the refund amount ready. They can confirm whether the deposit was sent and, if it was, help you trace it with your bank. Sometimes a deposit is rejected because the account number or routing number on your return was incorrect, and the Department will need to reissue the refund by check.
For paper checks, if 3 weeks have passed since "issued" and the check hasn't arrived, call the same number. The Department can place a stop on the original check and reissue a new one. This process takes another 2 to 3 weeks, so it's worth waiting the full 3 weeks before calling — mail delays are common and the check may still be in transit.
Verify your bank account information if direct deposit failed
If the Department issued your refund by direct deposit but your bank rejected it, you'll see the "issued" status but no money will appear. This happens when the account number or routing number you provided doesn't match your actual bank account, or when you listed a closed account. The Department will attempt the deposit once; if it fails, they don't retry automatically.
When you call 217-782-3336, tell them your direct deposit was rejected. Ask them to reissue the refund by paper check instead. Provide your correct mailing address and confirm it matches what's on file. The new check will be mailed within 5 to 7 business days and should arrive within 2 to 3 weeks after that.
To avoid this problem next year, double-check your routing number and account number before you file. Your bank's website or a blank check will show both numbers. The routing number is the first nine digits at the bottom left of a check; the account number follows it.
Contact the Department if you need help beyond the refund tracker
The taxpayer information line at 217-782-3336 is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Wait times are longest in February and March. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and the refund amount you expect before you call. They can tell you the exact reason your return is under review, confirm whether a letter has been mailed to you, and help you understand what documents the Department needs.
If you need to send documents to the Department, ask the representative for the correct mailing address. Different types of returns go to different addresses, and sending to the wrong one delays processing further. The representative will also tell you whether you can email documents or whether they must be mailed.
You can also file a complaint with the Department if you believe your refund has been delayed unreasonably. The complaint process is separate from the refund tracker and doesn't speed up your refund, but it creates a record if there's a systemic problem with how your return was handled.
Understand the difference between state and federal refunds
Your Illinois state refund and your federal refund are processed separately by different agencies. The IRS handles your federal return, and the Illinois Department of Revenue handles your state return. They don't share information in real time, so one can be approved while the other is still under review.
If you're waiting for both refunds, check the IRS tracker at irs.gov using the "Where's My Refund?" tool there. The IRS typically processes returns faster than Illinois — most federal refunds are issued within 21 days of filing electronically. However, if you claimed federal credits like the EITC, the IRS will hold your refund until mid-February regardless of when you filed.
Some people assume a delay in their state refund means a delay in their federal refund, or vice versa. They're independent. It's possible to receive your federal refund in February and your state refund in March, or to have your state refund approved while your federal return is still being reviewed.
Know what to do if you never received a refund you were promised
If the tracker shows "issued" and you've waited the full timeframe (10 business days for direct deposit, 3 weeks for a check) but the money never arrived, the refund may have been lost in the mail, rejected by your bank, or sent to an old address. Call 217-782-3336 and provide the date the refund was issued. The Department can confirm whether the deposit was sent to your bank and, if so, work with you to reissue it.
If you moved after you filed your return, the check may have gone to your old address. If you have a forwarding address on file with the post office, the check should be forwarded automatically. If not, contact the Department and provide your current address so they can reissue the check.
In rare cases, a refund is issued but the Department's records show it was never received by you. This can happen if there's a data entry error or a system glitch. The Department can investigate and, if they confirm the refund was lost, reissue it. This process takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a refund if I filed electronically?
Most electronic returns are processed within 21 days if everything on your return matches what your employer and bank reported. Direct deposit refunds arrive within 5 to 10 business days after the status changes to "issued." Paper checks take 2 to 3 weeks after "issued."
What does "under review" mean and how long will it last?
Under review means the Department is checking your information against what employers and banks reported. This phase can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on what needs to be verified. If it lasts longer than 21 days, the Department is waiting for you to provide additional documents or clarification.
Can I speed up my refund?
No. The Department processes returns in the order they're received, and there's no way to move yours to the front of the line. The fastest way to get your refund is to file electronically, provide accurate information, and respond when ready if the Department asks for more documents.
What if the refund amount shown in the tracker is wrong?
Call 217-782-3336 and ask a representative to review your return. The amount shown should match what you calculated, but if it doesn't, the Department may have found an error or adjusted your refund based on other income or credits you didn't account for. The representative can explain the difference.
Do I need to do anything if my refund is delayed, or does it eventually process on its own?
If your refund shows "under review," you don't need to do anything until the Department sends you a letter asking for more information. Once you receive that letter, respond as quickly as possible with the documents they request. If your refund shows "issued" but hasn't arrived after the expected timeframe, contact the Department to trace it.