Call the Mississippi Department of Revenue for your refund status

The Mississippi Department of Revenue is the only office that tracks your state tax refund. Call their Individual Income Tax Section at 601-359-1141 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time). Have your Social Security number and the tax year ready when you call.

The department can tell you whether your refund has been processed, when it was issued, and which delivery method was used. If your return was filed electronically, they can usually give you status information within 24 hours of filing. Paper returns take longer to process — typically two to four weeks before the department even begins reviewing them.

If you cannot reach the phone line or prefer not to call, you can also check your refund status online through the Mississippi Department of Revenue website. The online tool requires your Social Security number and filing status, and it updates as your return moves through processing.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue at 601-359-1141 to check your refund status by phone during business hours Monday through Friday.
  • Electronic returns typically show refund status within 24 hours of filing, while paper returns take two to four weeks before processing begins.
  • The online refund status tool on the Mississippi Department of Revenue website works 24/7 and requires only your Social Security number and filing status.
  • Refunds are delivered by direct deposit, check, or debit card depending on what you selected when filing your return.
  • If your refund was issued more than 60 days ago and you have not received it, contact the department to file a trace request.

What information you need before calling

Have your Social Security number ready — the department will not discuss your refund without it. You should also know which tax year you are asking about, though most people are checking on the most recent year they filed.

If you filed jointly, either spouse can call and provide their own Social Security number to check the status. The department does not require you to provide both numbers, but having them available speeds up the conversation if there are complications.

If you are calling about a return you filed through a tax preparer or software, have your confirmation number or filing date handy. This helps the department locate your return quickly if there are processing delays or errors.

How long Mississippi refunds typically take

The timeline depends on how you filed. Electronic returns are processed faster — most refunds are issued within 21 days of the department receiving your return, though some take longer if the return requires manual review. Paper returns take significantly longer because they must be scanned and entered into the system first, which adds two to four weeks before processing even begins.

Once the department issues your refund, the delivery method determines how long you wait to receive it. Direct deposit is fastest — the money typically arrives within three to five business days after the department releases it. Refunds sent by check take seven to ten business days through the mail. Refunds loaded onto a debit card (if you selected that option) arrive within five to seven business days.

These timelines assume no errors or missing information on your return. If the department finds a problem — a missing signature, incorrect Social Security number, or income mismatch — they will send you a notice asking for corrections, which adds weeks to the process.

Checking your refund status online instead of calling

The Mississippi Department of Revenue website has a refund status tool that works 24 hours a day. Go to the department's website, find the "Where's My Refund?" tool, and enter your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the refund amount from your return. The tool will show you the current status and, if your refund has been issued, the delivery method and expected arrival date.

The online tool updates as your return moves through the system, so you can check it multiple times without calling. Many people find this faster than waiting on hold, especially during tax season when phone lines are busy.

If the online tool shows "Return Received" but no refund status yet, your return is still being processed. Check back in a few days. If it shows "Return Accepted" and then nothing changes for more than 30 days, call the department to ask whether your return is stuck in manual review.

What to do if your refund is late or missing

If your refund was issued more than 60 days ago and you have not received it, contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue to file a trace request. This is an investigation into where the refund went — whether it was lost in the mail, sent to the wrong address, or deposited into the wrong bank account.

When you call to file a trace, have the refund issue date (which the department can tell you) and the delivery method ready. If your refund was supposed to arrive by check, the department will ask whether you have received any mail from them at all. If it was direct deposit, they will ask for the bank account number where it was supposed to land.

Trace requests take two to four weeks to complete. The department will contact you by mail with the results. If the refund was lost in the mail, they can issue a replacement check. If it was deposited into the wrong account, the process is more complicated and may require coordination with your bank.

If you moved or changed your address after filing

If you filed your return with one address but have since moved, your refund check may have gone to the old address. Contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue immediately and provide both addresses — the one on your return and your current one. They can flag your account and, if the refund has not yet been mailed, redirect it to the correct address.

If the check was already mailed to the old address, the department can issue a replacement, but you will need to provide proof that you no longer live there (a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement with your new address). This process adds two to four weeks.

If you changed your address with the U.S. Postal Service, mail forwarding may catch your refund check automatically. However, do not rely on this — call the department to confirm your address on file.

Refunds sent to the wrong bank account

If you chose direct deposit and your refund went to the wrong bank account, the problem usually stems from a typo when you filed. Contact your bank first and ask whether they received a deposit that does not match your account. Some banks will reject deposits to closed accounts or accounts with mismatched names and return the money to the Mississippi Department of Revenue automatically.

Call the department and explain what happened. They will file a trace to find out where the deposit went. If your bank rejected it, the department will reissue your refund by check or offer to send it by direct deposit again if you provide corrected banking information.

If the deposit went to someone else's account, recovery is harder. The department cannot force another person's bank to return money, but they can work with your bank and the receiving bank to document the error. This process can take several months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status without calling?

Yes. The Mississippi Department of Revenue website has a "Where's My Refund?" tool that works 24/7. Enter your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount to see your current status and expected delivery date. The online tool updates as your return is processed.

What if I filed my return more than 60 days ago and still have not received my refund?

Call the Mississippi Department of Revenue at 601-359-1141 to file a trace request. This investigates where your refund went — whether it was lost in the mail, sent to the wrong address, or deposited into the wrong bank account. Trace requests take two to four weeks to complete.

How long does it take to get a refund if I filed a paper return?

Paper returns take two to four weeks just to be scanned and entered into the system, then another two to three weeks to process. Once issued, your refund takes an additional seven to ten business days to arrive by mail. Total time is typically four to eight weeks.

What if the online tool says my return was accepted but nothing has changed for 30 days?

Your return may be in manual review, which happens when the department finds a discrepancy or needs more information. Call 601-359-1141 to ask whether your return requires additional documentation. If it does, the department will send you a notice by mail.

Can I get my refund faster if I call instead of checking online?

No. Calling does not speed up processing — it only tells you the current status. The department processes returns in the order they were received. Calling is useful only if you need to report a missing refund, update your address, or correct banking information for direct deposit.