Where to check your TABOR refund status

The Colorado Department of Revenue runs the TABOR refund program and maintains a tool where you can look up whether a refund was sent to you and when. Go to tax.colorado.gov and search for "TABOR refund status" — the page will have a search box where you enter your Social Security number or Individual Identification Number (ITIN) and the tax year you're asking about.

The tool shows you whether the state issued a refund in your name, the amount, and the date it was processed. If you filed a joint return, either spouse can search using their own SSN or ITIN and will see the same refund information. The search works for refunds from the past several years, so if you're looking for a refund from 2021 or 2022, you can check those years separately.

If the search shows a refund was issued but you never received it, the next step depends on how the state sent it — by mail check, direct deposit, or as a credit against taxes owed.

Key Takeaways

  • The Colorado Department of Revenue's online tool at tax.colorado.gov lets you search for your TABOR refund using your Social Security number and the tax year.
  • The tool shows whether a refund was issued, the amount, and the processing date — but does not tell you if a mailed check was lost in transit.
  • If the state shows a refund was issued but you did not receive a mailed check, contact the Department of Revenue to request a replacement or have it reissued as direct deposit.
  • Direct deposit refunds typically arrive within one to two weeks of the processing date shown in the search tool.
  • If you filed jointly, either spouse can search using their own SSN and will see the full refund amount.

What to do if the search shows no refund issued

If you search and the tool says no TABOR refund was issued in your name, the most common reason is that you did not file a Colorado tax return for that year. TABOR refunds are only issued to people who filed a return — even if you had no tax liability, you had to file to receive the refund. If you think you filed but the search shows nothing, you can verify by checking whether the state received your return.

Another reason the search might show nothing is that your income was above the threshold for that year's refund. TABOR refunds are limited to residents whose income fell within a certain range, which changes year to year. The Department of Revenue website lists the income limits for each year's refund, so you can check whether you were within the range.

If you believe you should have received a refund and the search tool shows you did not, you can contact the Department of Revenue directly. Have your Social Security number, the tax year in question, and a copy of your filed return ready when you call or visit their website to submit a question.

How to track a mailed check

If the search tool shows your refund was issued by check but you never received it, the check may have been lost in the mail or sent to an old address. The Department of Revenue cannot track individual checks the way the postal service can, but they can issue a replacement check or reissue the refund as direct deposit instead.

Contact the Department of Revenue and explain that you received notice of a refund but did not receive the check. You will need to provide your name, Social Security number, the refund amount shown in the search tool, and the processing date. The department can then cancel the original check and send a new one or deposit the funds directly to a bank account you provide.

Replacement checks typically take two to four weeks to arrive by mail. If you prefer direct deposit, the reissued refund usually reaches your account within one to two weeks of the department processing your request.

Direct deposit refunds and timing

If the search tool shows your refund was processed as direct deposit, the funds should have arrived in your bank account within one to two weeks of the processing date listed. If the processing date was more than two weeks ago and you still do not see the refund in your account, check with your bank first — sometimes deposits are delayed on the receiving end, or the funds may have been deposited to an account you do not check regularly.

If your bank confirms they never received the deposit, contact the Department of Revenue with your refund processing date and the bank account number where you expected the funds to land. The department can verify whether the direct deposit was sent and, if there was an error with the account number, reissue the refund by check or to a corrected account.

What if you moved since filing your return

If you filed your return from one address but have since moved, a mailed check may have gone to your old address. The postal service does not automatically forward checks, so if the refund was sent before you updated your address with the post office, it may still be at your former residence.

Contact the Department of Revenue and provide both your old and new addresses. Let them know the refund was mailed to your previous address and ask them to issue a replacement check to your current address or reissue the funds as direct deposit. You will need to provide your Social Security number and the refund amount and processing date from the search tool.

Contacting the Colorado Department of Revenue

The Department of Revenue has a phone line for tax questions and a form on their website where you can submit questions about your refund. When you call or submit a question, have your Social Security number, the tax year you're asking about, and the refund amount (if the search tool showed one) ready. Response times vary — phone lines can have wait times during busy periods, and online questions typically receive a response within five to ten business days.

You can also visit a Department of Revenue office in person if you live near one. The main office is in Denver, but the department has regional offices in several Colorado cities. Visiting in person can sometimes be faster than calling if you have documents with you, such as a copy of your filed return or a notice from the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a TABOR refund after the state issues it?

Direct deposit refunds arrive within one to two weeks of the processing date shown in the search tool. Mailed checks typically arrive within two to four weeks, though mail delivery times vary. If more than four weeks have passed since the processing date and you have not received a mailed check, contact the Department of Revenue to request a replacement.

Can I get my TABOR refund as direct deposit instead of a check?

If your refund was originally issued as a check and you did not receive it, you can contact the Department of Revenue and ask them to reissue it as direct deposit instead. You will need to provide your bank account number. Direct deposit is faster than waiting for a replacement check to arrive by mail.

What if the search tool shows a refund was issued but I do not recognize the amount?

Double-check the tax year — you may be looking at a different year's refund than you expected. TABOR refund amounts vary by year and by income level. If the amount still does not match what you expected, contact the Department of Revenue with your Social Security number and the tax year, and they can explain how the amount was calculated.

Do I need to do anything to receive my TABOR refund, or is it automatic?

TABOR refunds are automatic if you filed a Colorado tax return and met the income requirements for that year. You do not need to take any action to receive it. The state processes and issues refunds on a schedule, so if you filed your return on time, your refund should have been issued within a few months of the filing important date.