The Fastest Way to Get Your California Tax Refund

So you're banking on a fast refund to pay the bills. No sweat. The fastest way to get your tax refund is straightforward. All you have to do is file early, file online, choose direct deposit, and make sure the details of your papers are up to date. More on each below.

File early

Tax season is a speed game. The sooner you file, the sooner the IRS will process your refund. If you have a choice between filing your taxes today and filing by the 2024 deadline, choose now.

The tax-filing deadline is April 15, 2024.

File online

Filing online is the fastest way to get your California tax refund. According to the State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), e-filings are processed within three weeks and paper filings within three months.

You can file taxes online in several ways. Tax-filing platforms like TurboTax guide you through the process, though the best tax software will charge you for the privilege, eating into your refund. But if you want help filing your taxes, it's worth considering.

You can also file state taxes with CalFile, a free tax-filing service for Californians. Note that you'll have to file your federal taxes separately.

Choose direct deposit

You can typically receive your tax refund via mail (as a check) or direct deposit. Choose direct deposit to get your refund fast. According to the FTB, Californians who want to get the fastest refund possible through CalFile should choose direct deposit as their refund method.

Check the details of your tax return

You want your first submission to be your last. According to the FTB, amended tax returns can delay refunds big-time. It could take up to five months for an amended return to process.

The FTB may contact you to confirm the details of your return. If so, you'll want to ensure your contact information is up to date. This applies even if you file through third-party platforms.

What to do when your refund is late

If you're waiting longer than typical for your refund, there are a couple of things you can do.

The first is to check your refund status. You can do so on the FTB website. To access your refund info, you'll need your Social Security number, ZIP code, exact refund amount, and the numbers in your mailing address.

(Tip: Save your estimated refund amount to access it later. Your online tax processing platform will typically provide it as you file.)

The second option is to contact the FTB directly. Californians can call 800-852-5711, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The FTB website details a couple of other ways to contact them, including via snail mail and chat.

The quick-and-dirty recap: the fastest way to get your California tax refund is to file early, file online, choose direct deposit, and straighten out the details, especially your contact information. Most filers who do so should get their refund within a few weeks.