Call the Missouri Department of Revenue for your state tax refund status

The Missouri Department of Revenue is the only office that tracks your state tax refund. You can reach them by phone at 573-751-3505 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Have your Social Security number and the tax year in question ready when you call.

If you prefer not to call, you can check your refund status online through the Missouri Department of Revenue website without speaking to anyone. The online tool is faster for a simple status check and works 24 hours a day. You will need your Social Security number and filing status to log in.

Do not call the IRS about your Missouri state refund — they handle only federal refunds. The two systems are separate, and the IRS cannot see your state refund information. If you are waiting for both a federal and state refund, you will need to contact each agency separately.

Key Takeaways

  • The Missouri Department of Revenue at 573-751-3505 is the only source for your state tax refund status.
  • You can check your refund status online 24/7 without calling, using your Social Security number and filing status.
  • State and federal refunds are processed separately — contact the IRS only for federal refund questions.
  • Most Missouri state refunds arrive within 30 days of approval, but processing time varies depending on how you filed and whether your return needs review.
  • If your refund is delayed beyond the expected timeframe, the Department of Revenue can investigate and tell you why.

How to check your refund status online without calling

The Missouri Department of Revenue website has a refund status tool that gives you an answer in seconds. Go to the Department of Revenue homepage, find the "Refund Status" link, and enter your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the refund amount you expect. The tool will tell you whether your refund is still being processed, approved, or already sent.

The online tool updates daily, so if you checked yesterday and saw "processing," checking today might show "approved." This is the fastest way to get an answer, and you do not have to wait on hold. If the tool shows your refund was sent but you have not received it, note the date it says it was mailed — that tells you when to expect it in the mail or when to contact the department about a missing check.

What information you need before you call

Have these details ready when you call the Missouri Department of Revenue: your Social Security number, the tax year you are asking about (2023, 2024, etc.), your filing status, and the refund amount you expect. If you filed electronically, also have your PIN or the date you filed. If you mailed a paper return, have the date you mailed it.

If you are calling about a refund that was supposed to arrive but did not, have the date the department told you it would be mailed. The representative can then search for where your check is in the mail system or investigate whether it was sent to the wrong address.

How long Missouri state refunds typically take

Most Missouri state refunds are processed within 30 days of the department receiving your return. If you filed electronically, processing usually takes 10 to 21 days. If you mailed a paper return, add 5 to 10 days for the department to receive and scan it before processing begins.

Once your refund is approved, the department mails a check or deposits it to your bank account (if you chose direct deposit). A mailed check usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days after approval. Direct deposit is faster — typically 3 to 5 business days. If your refund has been approved for more than two weeks and you have not received it, call the department to ask whether it was mailed to the correct address or whether there was a problem with your direct deposit information.

Reasons your Missouri refund might be delayed

The most common reason for a delay is that the department needs more information from you. This happens when your return has math errors, missing information, or income that does not match what employers reported to the state. The department will send you a letter explaining what they need. If you receive this letter, respond as quickly as possible — delays in responding can add weeks to your refund timeline.

Other delays happen when you claim certain credits (like the Earned Income Credit) that require extra verification, or when the department is processing a high volume of returns during tax season. If your refund is delayed beyond 30 days and you have not received a letter asking for more information, call 573-751-3505 to find out what is holding it up.

What to do if your refund check is lost or never arrived

If the department says your refund was mailed more than two weeks ago and you have not received it, call them immediately. Have the mailing date ready. The department can file a trace on your check, which means they will search the mail system to see where it is. If the check cannot be found after 30 days, the department will issue a replacement check or deposit the money directly to your bank account.

If your check arrived but was damaged, lost after arrival, or stolen, you will need to contact the department to request a replacement. They will ask you to sign a statement saying you did not receive the original check. Once they receive this, they will reissue the refund.

Direct deposit versus mailed checks for Missouri refunds

If you chose direct deposit on your return, your refund goes to your bank account instead of being mailed as a check. Direct deposit is faster — usually 3 to 5 business days after approval — and there is no risk of the check being lost in the mail. If you did not choose direct deposit when you filed, you cannot change it after the fact. Your refund will be mailed as a check.

Make sure the bank account information on your return is correct. If you entered the wrong account number or routing number, your refund will be rejected by your bank and sent back to the department. This adds 2 to 3 weeks to the timeline. If this happens, the department will mail you a check instead. You can avoid this by double-checking your banking information before you file.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Calling does not speed up processing. The department processes refunds in the order they receive them, regardless of whether you call or check online. Calling is useful only if you need to know the status, investigate a missing refund, or provide information the department requested.

What if I filed both a federal and Missouri state return and only got one refund?

Federal and state refunds are processed separately and may arrive on different dates. Check your federal refund status with the IRS at irs.gov and your Missouri status with the Department of Revenue at 573-751-3505. One may have been approved and sent while the other is still being processed.

Do I need to file a separate call for each year's refund?

Yes. If you are waiting for refunds from multiple years, you will need to check or ask about each year separately. Tell the representative which tax year you are asking about when you call.

What if the Department of Revenue says my refund was sent but my bank says it never arrived?

Contact the department immediately and tell them the refund was rejected by your bank. This usually means the account number or routing number on your return was incorrect. The department will investigate and either reissue the refund to a corrected account or mail you a check.

Can I request my Missouri refund as a check instead of direct deposit?

No. Once you file your return, the refund method is set. If you chose direct deposit, you cannot change it to a check. If you chose a check, you cannot change it to direct deposit. Plan ahead for your next year's return if you want to use a different method.