When Does NC Start Processing Tax Returns?

This article explains when the North Carolina Department of Revenue begins processing state tax returns, typical refund timelines, and how to check your refund status.

North Carolina’s Tax Processing Start Date

The North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) will begin accepting and processing 2024 individual income tax returns on Monday, January 27, 2025. The NCDOR must wait for the IRS to open its electronic filing systems and provide necessary programming specifications before it can start its own processing.

Taxpayers using commercial tax software or professional preparers can submit their returns before this official start date. These early submissions are held in a queue by the software providers and are not transmitted to the NCDOR until the state officially opens the tax filing season.

While the standard deadline for filing state income tax returns is April 15, there can be exceptions. Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, the IRS and NCDOR provided extensions for the 2024 tax year, moving the filing and payment deadline for all of North Carolina to September 25, 2025.

Typical Refund Processing Timelines

The time it takes to receive a tax refund from North Carolina depends on the filing method. The NCDOR encourages electronic filing, as it is the fastest way to submit a return. Taxpayers who e-file their return and choose to receive their refund via direct deposit can expect to receive their payment within six weeks after the state begins processing returns in late January.

Filing a paper return lengthens the refund timeline. Paper returns must be manually entered into the NCDOR’s system, a process that can add several weeks to the timeline. A taxpayer who files a paper return can expect to wait up to twelve weeks or more from the date the return is received. Delays for paper filers have been further impacted because the NCDOR’s printing and mailing vendor went out of business, which is slowing down the mailing of paper refund checks and notices.

Several factors can delay a refund, regardless of the filing method. Mathematical errors, missing information on the tax form, or transposed numbers can cause a return to be flagged for manual review. Additionally, the NCDOR has security measures in place to combat tax fraud, and some returns may be selected for identity verification, which requires the taxpayer to provide additional information before the refund can be issued.

Checking Your North Carolina Refund Status

Taxpayers can monitor the status of their state refund through the NCDOR’s “Where’s My Refund?” online portal. To use the service, you will need to provide your Social Security Number and the exact amount of your expected refund as shown on your Form D-400, Individual Income Tax Return.

The online tool displays several statuses to inform you where your return is in the process. A “Received” status means the NCDOR has your return and is beginning to process it. The “Processing” status indicates that the department is reviewing your return for accuracy. Finally, the “Issued” status confirms that your refund has been sent, either through direct deposit to your bank account or as a paper check mailed to the address on your return.