North Carolina Income Tax Refund.

[harllee]

I filed my NC income tax return electronically with Turbo Tax and got an acknowledgement of receipt on 2/6/25. I was owed a refund. I have checked the NC refund tracker and it says my refund is being processed, has said that for a month. There was nothing unusual about my tax return. I know that NC is notoriously slow in sending refunds but this is ridiculous. Have any of you NC residents gotten a tax refund yet?

 

[ChrisC]

Yes. Our returns were accepted on 2/24/25 and my refund was deposited on 4/2/25. We use FTUSA. This was much faster for us than prior years, where we used CPAs to file for us. In TY 2022, the NC Revenue auditors asked for clarification about our reliance on the Bailey Settlement (which we have used for every TY since 2014) on our tax return -- we provided that additional documentation and our refund was processed 8 weeks later. In TY 2023, we had a more complicated return with NY State tax credits applied to our NC return -- we had filed NY non-resident tax returns. It took around 8-12 weeks for our NC refund to hit our bank account last year. This year, TY 24, was much faster than before since we didn't have factors/issues which had not been previously addressed such as the Bailey Settlement application to Roth conversions from my TSP account.

 

[harllee]

I used Turbo Tax and I have a relatively uncomplicated return. I itemize but that is the only complicated part.

I also filed my mothers return on Turbo Tax about the same time, she is suppose to get a $20 NC refund and she has not gotten it either.

 

[latexman]

Not yet. I filed 4/5/25. TT said, "Before you call the North Carolina Department of Revenue with questions about your refund, give them 21 days processing time from the date your return is accepted. If then you have not received your refund, or the amount is not what you expected, contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue directly at 1-877-252-4052. You can also visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue web site at www.dornc.com."

 

[Flieger]

Not NC, but I am next door in SC.

Filed using TT on 3/30, accepted on 3/31. My State refund was deposited on 4/8.

Hopefully yours will come soon Harllee!

Flieger

 

[HighFlight]

Harllee, a quick question about the Bailey settlement. Is that a pretty straightforward process? I will qualify (20 yr+ ,entered AD in May 1982). We are exploring if the settlement will apply to my wife's federal pension and her IRA distributions (when we start them). She was an ROTC grad- commissioned in May 1984, but didn't enter active duty until September 1984. We are in touch with an NC CPA-hoping that the commission date takes precedence.

 

[harllee]

Harllee, a quick question about the Bailey settlement. Is that a pretty straightforward process? I will qualify (20 yr+ ,entered AD in May 1982). We are exploring if the settlement will apply to my wife's federal pension and her IRA distributions (when we start them). She was an ROTC grad- commissioned in May 1984, but didn't enter active duty until September 1984. We are in touch with an NC CPA-hoping that the commission date takes precedence.

I did not use the Bailey settlement on my return, don't know anything about it , sorry

 

[HighFlight]

I did not use the Bailey settlement on my return, don't know anything about it , sorry

oops-tagged the wrong person. Sorry about that!

 

[HighFlight]

Yes. Our returns were accepted on 2/24/25 and my refund was deposited on 4/2/25. We use FTUSA. This was much faster for us than prior years, where we used CPAs to file for us. In TY 2022, the NC Revenue auditors asked for clarification about our reliance on the Bailey Settlement (which we have used for every TY since 2014) on our tax return -- we provided that additional documentation and our refund was processed 8 weeks later. In TY 2023, we had a more complicated return with NY State tax credits applied to our NC return -- we had filed NY non-resident tax returns. It took around 8-12 weeks for our NC refund to hit our bank account last year. This year, TY 24, was much faster than before since we didn't have factors/issues which had not been previously addressed such as the Bailey Settlement application to Roth conversions from my TSP account.

Chris, a quick question about the Bailey settlement. Is that a pretty straightforward process? I will qualify (20 yr+ ,entered AD in May 1982). We are exploring if the settlement will apply to my wife's federal pension and her IRA distributions (when we start them). She was an ROTC grad- commissioned in May 1984, but didn't enter active duty until September 1984. We are in touch with an NC CPA-hoping that the commission date takes precedence.

 

[ChrisC]

It is a straightforward process. The military pension exclusion in North Carolina is not part of the Bailey Settlement but it operates the same way as Bailey; i.e. the military pension is not included as part of NC taxable income. Bailey applies to Federal pensions. but not sure creditable service in the military counts toward adding the civilian service time that would make one eligible under Bailey. What does her OPM Form 50 or retirement papers at separation state for her Service Computation Date/Entry on Duty Date. Generally, Bailey requires 5 years of vested creditable service before August 12, 1989 -- this would make virtually every CSRS retiree eligible for Bailey in NC. For FERS, it might be a bit of a challenge, but we've taken Bailey for BIL, who had AD military service from 1977-82, then Federal LEO service beginning in 1986 and retirement in 2011. But the Bailey exclusion for him does not impact him significantly because his itemized medical expenses result in zero Federal and State income tax liability, so we have that to fall back on.

I've attached a guide we use in AARP-TaxAide for Bailey. Personally, I've not had any problems with Bailey, except when I first started taking xxx,xxx distributions/conversions from TSP -- and NC asked for documentation establishing my vesting in TSP and requested I identify my SCD -- I had a official letter from TSP, included in my retirement papers, saying I was vested in TSP since 1984 (strange since TSP didn't permit contributions from CSRS folks until 1990) and OPM papers stated my SCD was March 1979.

The tax software I've used for Bailey, Taxslayer for my work as TaxAide, and FreeTaxUsa for myself and BIL, have straightforward approaches to claiming Bailey.

 

[PlayinwithFIRE]

Well-they wasted no time taking my money, they should have that to pay you your return

pwf

 

[old medic]

Filed ours 3/19 and dont expect a check till next month

 

[harllee]

Filed ours 3/19 and dont expect a check till next month

If you get a check next month that will be fast for NC. I asked for my refund to be direct deposited into my checking account and filed 2/6 and have gotten zero.

 

[latexman]

Not yet. I filed 4/5/25. TT said, "Before you call the North Carolina Department of Revenue with questions about your refund, give them 21 days processing time from the date your return is accepted. If then you have not received your refund, or the amount is not what you expected, contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue directly at 1-877-252-4052. You can also visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue web site at www.dornc.com."

I got my NC refund deposited into my account today, so it took 11 days (8 business days)!

 

[William38]

Totally get the frustration—North Carolina is known for being slow with refunds. A friend of mine in NC filed around the same time as you and just got their refund last week, so things are moving, just slowly. If it’s been over 60 days with no update, I’d check the state’s “Where’s My Refund” tool again or consider reaching out directly. Hopefully yours shows up soon.

 

[harllee]

Totally get the frustration—North Carolina is known for being slow with refunds. A friend of mine in NC filed around the same time as you and just got their refund last week, so things are moving, just slowly. If it’s been over 60 days with no update, I’d check the state’s “Where’s My Refund” tool again or consider reaching out directly. Hopefully yours shows up soon.

I have checked the Where's my Refund tool every few days and it has been on Stage 3 (reviewing return) for at least a month! It says to wait at least 90 days from filing before contacting NC Dept of Revenue.

 

[harllee]

I got my NC refund deposited into my account today, so it took 11 days (8 business days)!

Wow, I have never heard of anyone in NC getting a refund that fast. Everyone I know of is still waiting and waiting.

 

[Dtail]

Sorry to hear that.
In Florida, so no state tax, but I make sure every tax return filed owes monies.

 

[old medic]

I just checked. says.... The checks in the mail !

 

[mystang52]

OP: Not a tax refund, and not NC, but maybe you need to do this: I was entitled to a New Jersey tax abatement check. I filed electronically, got the electronic acknowledgement, and for numerous weeks it said my application was approved and payment pending. Eventually I called and elarned they were waiting for some additional form, which of course they never told me about previously. Maybe you need to call them to see if there is some hiccup in your tax form.

 

[NCMom]

Wondering if the persons who received their refund included their driver's license number for identification purposes? We have still not received ours either but did not include our dl's this year as husband was not reachable to get the information and I wanted to go ahead and file.

 

[Flieger]

Wow. NC seems messed up....

Flieger

 

[AbbA]

I was surprised that this year we got our NC refund probably 3-4 weeks earlier than last year. Yes, DL was provided.

 

[harllee]

OP here, just today I got notice the refund is being deposited into my checking, but it still has not shown up. Waiting almost 3 months. Yes we did provide drivers license numbers.

 

[old medic]

We also provided DL #s, and now 2 weeks later, checks still in the mail.