Where to check your Massachusetts tax refund

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) lets you check your refund status online through their website without needing to call or visit an office. You can look up the status of a state income tax refund, a sales tax refund, or a property tax refund — each has its own tracking tool.

The fastest way is to go to mass.gov/dor and use the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You will need your Social Security number and the exact amount of the refund you are expecting. If you filed jointly, you can use either spouse's Social Security number. The tool shows you whether your refund has been received, processed, approved, or sent out.

You can also call the DOR refund hotline at 617-887-6367. The wait time is usually shorter early in the tax season (January through March) and longer in April and May. Have your Social Security number and refund amount ready when you call.

Key Takeaways

  • The Massachusetts Department of Revenue's "Where's My Refund?" tool on mass.gov/dor is the fastest way to check your refund status without waiting on hold.
  • You will need your Social Security number and the exact refund amount you are expecting to use the online tool.
  • If you filed a joint return, either spouse's Social Security number works to look up the status.
  • Refunds typically take two to four weeks to process after the DOR receives your return, though this varies depending on whether you claimed certain credits.
  • If your refund shows as sent but you have not received it after two weeks, contact the DOR to confirm your mailing address or bank account information.

What the refund status stages mean

When you check your refund status, you will see one of several messages. "Return received" means the DOR has your return but has not started processing it yet. This is normal in the weeks right after the filing important date. "Return processed" means the DOR has reviewed your return and approved the refund amount — this is when the clock starts for payment.

"Refund approved" means the DOR has finalized the amount and is preparing to send it. "Refund sent" means the payment has left the DOR. If you chose direct deposit, the money should arrive in your bank account within one to three business days after this status appears. If you chose a paper check, allow seven to ten business days from the "sent" date.

If you see "Return under review" or "Additional information needed," the DOR is asking questions about something on your return — usually a credit you claimed or income you reported. You will receive a letter explaining what they need. Respond to that letter as quickly as you can, because your refund will not move forward until they receive your answer.

How long Massachusetts refunds usually take

The DOR aims to process most returns within two to four weeks of receiving them. In practice, the timeline depends on when you file and whether your return is straightforward. Returns filed in January and February usually process faster because the DOR has more staff capacity. Returns filed in April and early May can take longer because the office is busier.

Returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child and Dependent Care Credit take longer — the DOR holds these refunds until mid-February to prevent fraud, even if you file in January. This is a federal rule that Massachusetts follows. If your refund includes one of these credits, expect to wait until at least mid-February before you see movement, regardless of when you filed.

If you filed electronically and chose direct deposit, your refund will arrive faster than if you filed on paper or chose a check. Direct deposit refunds typically arrive within one to three business days of the "sent" status. Paper checks take seven to ten business days.

What to do if your refund is delayed

If your refund status has not changed in more than four weeks, or if it shows "sent" but you have not received the money after two weeks, contact the DOR. Call 617-887-6367 and have your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount ready. The DOR can tell you whether there is a problem with your address, bank account, or return.

Common reasons for delays include a mismatch between the name and Social Security number on your return and your bank account (if you chose direct deposit), an incorrect mailing address on file, or a hold placed on your refund because of a past-due tax bill or child support obligation. The DOR representative can explain which issue applies to you and what to do next.

If the DOR confirms your refund was sent but you still have not received it after two weeks, ask them to issue a replacement check or resubmit the direct deposit. This process usually takes another two to four weeks.

Checking a refund from a prior year

You can look up refunds from previous years using the same "Where's My Refund?" tool. If you filed a return in 2022 or 2023 and never received the refund, the tool will show you the status. Many older refunds that were never claimed have been held by the DOR and may be available to you.

If the tool shows your refund was sent but you never received it, you may be able to claim it through the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Program. The DOR holds unclaimed refunds for a set period before transferring them to the state treasurer's office. You can search for unclaimed property at mass.gov/unclaimed-property or call 617-367-0400.

Different types of Massachusetts refunds

Massachusetts has separate refund processes for state income tax, sales tax, and property tax. The "Where's My Refund?" tool covers income tax refunds only. If you are waiting for a sales tax refund (for example, if you overpaid sales tax on a purchase), you will need to contact the DOR directly at 617-887-6367 to check that status.

Property tax refunds work differently — they are issued by your city or town assessor's office, not by the state DOR. If you are waiting for a property tax refund, contact your local assessor's office directly. You can find their phone number on your city or town's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status if I filed jointly with my spouse?

Yes. You can use either your Social Security number or your spouse's Social Security number to check the status of a joint return. The refund amount will be the same either way, so use whichever number you remember more easily.

What does it mean if the tool says my return is under review?

The DOR is asking questions about something on your return — usually a credit you claimed or income you reported. You will receive a letter in the mail explaining what they need. Send back the documents or information they ask for as soon as you can, because your refund will not move forward until they receive your response.

My refund shows as sent but I have not received it. What should I do?

Call the DOR at 617-887-6367 and confirm that your mailing address or bank account information is correct. If you chose direct deposit, the money should arrive within one to three business days of the "sent" status. If it has been longer than that, the DOR can resubmit the payment or issue a replacement check.

How do I check a refund from last year that I never received?

Use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on mass.gov/dor and enter your information from that year's return. If the tool shows your refund was sent, you may be able to claim it through the Massachusetts Unclaimed Property Program at mass.gov/unclaimed-property.

Where do I check the status of a sales tax or property tax refund?

The "Where's My Refund?" tool covers income tax only. For sales tax refunds, call the DOR at 617-887-6367. For property tax refunds, contact your city or town assessor's office directly — they handle those refunds, not the state.