Washington State does not have an income tax, so there is no state tax refund to wait for

Washington is one of nine states with no personal income tax. If you filed a Washington state tax return or received a notice from the Department of Revenue, it was almost certainly about a different kind of tax — most commonly the capital gains tax, which applies only to long-term investment profits over $250,000 per year, or a business-related tax if you are self-employed.

If you are waiting for money back from the federal government, that is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refund, not a Washington state refund. The timeline and process are completely separate from anything Washington state handles.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington has no state income tax, so state tax refunds do not exist for wage earners.
  • If you received a Washington Department of Revenue notice, it likely concerns capital gains tax, business taxes, or a federal matter the state is helping to collect.
  • Federal tax refunds are processed by the IRS on their own timeline, which is separate from any state process.
  • The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return, though some take longer if they require verification.

What Washington State actually taxes

Washington collects tax on capital gains — the profit you make when you sell stocks, bonds, real estate (other than your primary home), or other long-term investments. The tax applies only to gains over $250,000 in a single year and only to profits held for more than one year. Most wage earners never owe this tax.

Washington also taxes certain business activities, including capital gains from business sales and some types of business income. If you own a business or sold one, you may receive a notice from the Department of Revenue about this tax.

If you received a Washington tax notice and you do not fall into either category, the notice may be about a federal tax matter that the state is assisting with, or it may be a mistake. Contact the Department of Revenue directly at 360-705-6705 to confirm what the notice concerns.

If you are waiting for a federal tax refund

The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return. This timeline applies whether you filed electronically or by mail. The IRS publishes a tool called "Where's My Refund?" on irs.gov that shows the status of your specific return — this is the most reliable source of information about timing.

Some refunds take longer than 21 days. The IRS may need to verify information on your return, review it for errors, or investigate potential fraud. If your return was filed by mail, add 2 to 3 weeks to the processing time before the 21-day clock starts. If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the IRS is required by law to hold your refund until at least mid-February, even if your return is processed earlier.

Once the IRS approves your refund, the money goes to your bank account (if you chose direct deposit) or arrives as a check in the mail. Direct deposit typically takes 1 to 2 business days after the IRS releases the refund. Checks take 7 to 10 business days.

What to do if your federal refund is delayed

Check the "Where's My Refund?" tool first. It will tell you whether the IRS is still processing your return, has approved it, or has flagged it for review. If the tool shows your refund was approved and sent to your bank, but you have not received it after 2 business days, contact your bank — the delay may be on their end.

If the tool shows your return is still being processed after 21 days, or if it shows a status you do not understand, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are long, especially during tax season (January through April), but this is the only way to get a real answer about your specific return.

If you filed by mail and it has been more than 6 weeks since you mailed your return, the IRS may not have received it. Call the IRS to confirm they have your return on file before assuming it is lost.

Capital gains tax refunds from Washington State

If you owe Washington capital gains tax and have overpaid, or if you filed a return and are owed a refund, the Department of Revenue processes refunds on their own schedule. Washington does not publish a standard timeline for capital gains tax refunds the way the IRS does for federal refunds.

Contact the Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705 or check your online account through the Department of Revenue website to see the status of a capital gains tax refund. Have your Social Security number and the tax year in question ready when you call.

How to track your federal refund in real time

Go to irs.gov and select "Where's My Refund?" You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight. If you check multiple times in a single day, you will see the same status.

The tool will show one of four statuses: "Return Received" (the IRS has your return but has not finished processing it), "Approved" (the IRS has approved your refund and it is on the way), "Sent" (the refund has been released to your bank or mailed as a check), or "You can see the status of your return" followed by a message about a delay or issue. If you see a message about a delay, it means the IRS needs more information or is reviewing your return for errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington State have an income tax refund?

No. Washington has no personal income tax on wages or salaries. If you received a state tax notice, it concerns capital gains tax (on investment profits over $250,000), business taxes, or a federal matter. If you are unsure, call the Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705.

Why is my federal refund taking longer than 21 days?

The IRS may be verifying information on your return, investigating potential errors, or reviewing it for fraud. If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS holds refunds until mid-February by law. Check "Where's My Refund?" on irs.gov to see if your return is flagged for review.

What if I filed my return by mail?

Add 2 to 3 weeks to the processing time. The IRS must receive and scan your return before the 21-day processing clock starts. If it has been more than 6 weeks since you mailed it, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm they received it.

Can I get my federal refund faster?

No. The IRS processes refunds in the order they are received. Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit is the fastest method, but the 21-day timeline applies regardless. Refund anticipation loans offered by tax preparation companies are not faster — they are loans you repay with interest.

What should I do if the IRS says my refund was sent but I never received it?

If direct deposit was sent, wait 2 business days and check your bank account. If a check was mailed, wait 10 business days. If the money still has not arrived, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 with the date the refund was sent and ask them to investigate.