How to check your Washington state tax refund status

Washington does not have a state income tax, so there is no state tax refund to track. If you filed a Washington state return and expect money back, you are most likely waiting for a federal refund from the IRS, not a state refund.

However, Washington does issue refunds for other reasons: business tax refunds, sales tax refunds for certain businesses, unclaimed property held by the state, and refunds from the Department of Revenue for overpayment of other state taxes. The method to check your status depends on which type of refund you are waiting for.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington has no state income tax, so a refund you are waiting for is likely a federal IRS refund, which you can track at IRS.gov using your Social Security number and filing status.
  • If you overpaid Washington state business and operations taxes, sales tax, or other state levies, contact the Department of Revenue directly at 360-705-6705 or check your account online through the DOR portal.
  • Unclaimed property held by Washington state can be searched for free at the State Treasurer's website using your name or business name.
  • Refunds from Washington state programs like Working Families Tax Credit or other credits are processed by the Department of Revenue and take four to eight weeks after filing.
  • If your refund does not arrive within the expected timeframe, contact the issuing agency directly rather than waiting — delays often require action on your part.

Federal tax refunds: the most common case

If you filed a federal tax return and are waiting for money back, you are tracking an IRS refund, not a Washington state refund. The IRS processes federal returns and sends refunds by mail or direct deposit, regardless of which state you live in.

To check your federal refund status, go to IRS.gov/refunds and use the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You will need your Social Security number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.), and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool updates once per day, usually overnight, and tells you whether the IRS has received your return, is processing it, has approved it, or has sent it out.

Federal refunds typically arrive within 21 days of the IRS approving your return, though the IRS can take longer if your return requires manual review. If you chose direct deposit, the money lands in your bank account. If you chose a paper check, it arrives by mail and can take an additional week or more depending on postal service delays.

Washington state business and operations tax refunds

If you own a business in Washington and overpaid state business and operations taxes (B&O tax), sales tax, or other state business levies, the Department of Revenue processes refunds for those overpayments.

To check the status of a business tax refund, contact the Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time). Have your business identification number or tax account number ready. You can also log into your Department of Revenue online account at dor.wa.gov if you have already set up a login, which shows the status of any pending refunds tied to your account.

Business tax refunds typically take four to eight weeks to process once the Department of Revenue receives your claim or determines the overpayment. If you filed an amended return or a refund claim form, the processing time may be longer.

Unclaimed property and dormant accounts

Washington's State Treasurer holds unclaimed property — money or assets that have been abandoned or lost track of for a set period. This includes unclaimed bank accounts, insurance payouts, utility deposits, and wages owed to former employees.

To search for unclaimed property in your name, visit wa.treasurer.org/unclaimed-property and use the free search tool. You can search by your name or a business name. If the State Treasurer finds a match, the site will tell you the type of property and the amount, and will provide instructions for how to claim it. The process is free and requires no payment upfront.

Claims for unclaimed property can take several weeks to process once you submit the required documentation. The State Treasurer will contact you with next steps if your claim is approved.

Washington Working Families Tax Credit and other state credits

Washington offers a Working Families Tax Credit for low-income workers. If you filed for this credit on your federal return and claimed it through Washington state, the Department of Revenue processes the refund separately from your federal refund.

The Working Families Tax Credit refund is issued by the Department of Revenue and typically arrives four to eight weeks after you file your federal return. You can check the status by calling the Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705 or by logging into your online account at dor.wa.gov.

Other Washington state tax credits or refunds (such as credits for certain energy-efficient home improvements or other state-specific programs) are also processed by the Department of Revenue. The timeline varies depending on the program, but most take four to eight weeks.

What to do if your refund is late

If your federal refund has not arrived within 21 days of the IRS approval date shown in the "Where's My Refund?" tool, check the tool again to confirm the status. If the status shows "approved" but the money has not landed in your account or arrived by mail, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to report the delay.

For Washington state refunds (business tax, credits, or other state-issued refunds), contact the Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705 if your refund is more than two weeks past the expected date. Have your refund reference number or tax account number ready. The Department of Revenue can tell you whether the refund was issued and, if so, when it should have arrived.

If a refund was issued but never arrived, the issuing agency can reissue it or investigate whether it was lost in the mail. Do not wait longer than two weeks past the expected date to contact them — the sooner you report it, the sooner they can take action.

Refunds from Washington state agencies and programs

Washington state agencies other than the Department of Revenue also issue refunds. These include refunds from the Department of Licensing (for overpaid vehicle registration or driver's license fees), the Department of Social and Health Services (for overpaid benefits or copayments), and other state programs.

To check the status of a refund from a specific agency, contact that agency directly. The agency name and phone number should appear on any notice or receipt you received related to the overpayment or refund. Most state agencies process refunds within four to eight weeks, though some may take longer depending on the reason for the refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I file a Washington state return if there is no state income tax?

You may have filed a Washington state return to claim the Working Families Tax Credit, to report business income, or to file for a refund of overpaid sales tax or other state taxes. Washington has no income tax on wages, but it does tax business income and has other state-specific credits and refunds.

How long does a federal refund take if I chose direct deposit?

The IRS typically sends direct deposit refunds within 21 days of approving your return. However, if your bank is slow to post the deposit or if the IRS needs to review your return manually, it can take longer. Check the "Where's My Refund?" tool to see the exact status.

Can I get my refund faster if I call the Department of Revenue?

Calling the Department of Revenue will not speed up processing, but it will confirm whether your refund is in progress and when it is expected to arrive. If there is a problem with your claim, the Department of Revenue can sometimes resolve it over the phone, which may prevent further delays.

What if I never received my refund check in the mail?

If your refund was issued by check but never arrived, contact the issuing agency (the IRS for federal refunds, the Department of Revenue for state refunds) and report it as missing. They can reissue the check or, in some cases, send the refund by direct deposit instead. Provide the date the refund was supposed to arrive and your current mailing address.

Is there a phone number I can call to check my federal refund status?

The IRS prefers that you use the "Where's My Refund?" tool online at IRS.gov/refunds because it is faster and more current. However, you can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to speak with a representative, though wait times can be long during tax season.