Where to check your Maryland refund

The Maryland Department of Revenue runs a refund tracker on its website. Go to marylandtaxes.gov, find the "Refund Status" tool, and enter your Social Security number and the exact refund amount you expect. The tool tells you whether your return is still being processed, approved, or sent out—and if it has already been paid, the date the money left the state's account.

This is the only official source for your refund status. The state does not send refund status by text or email, and no other website can tell you what Maryland's system shows. If you used a tax preparation service like TurboTax or H&R Block, that service can tell you whether they received your return, but only Maryland's tracker shows what the state itself is doing with it.

You need two pieces of information to use the tracker: your nine-digit Social Security number and the refund amount from your return. If you filed jointly, use the primary filer's SSN. The amount must match exactly—if you claimed $847 and you enter $800, the tool will not find your return.

Key Takeaways

  • The Maryland Department of Revenue's refund tracker at marylandtaxes.gov is the only official source for your refund status.
  • You need your Social Security number and the exact refund amount from your return to search for your status.
  • The tracker shows whether your return is processing, approved, or already paid, and the date payment was sent.
  • Maryland typically processes returns within 30 days of receipt, but refunds sent by mail take an additional 7 to 10 business days to arrive.
  • If the tracker shows your refund was sent but you have not received it after two weeks, contact the Department of Revenue directly.

What the refund status tracker actually tells you

The tracker shows four possible statuses. "Return received" means Maryland has your filing but has not finished reviewing it yet. "Return approved" means the state has processed your return and calculated your refund, but the payment has not gone out. "Refund sent" means the state has issued the payment—either by direct deposit or by check—and gives you the date it left the state's system.

The fourth status is "No record found," which means either your Social Security number or refund amount does not match what Maryland has on file. This usually happens because the amount is slightly off—you entered $847 when you actually claimed $874, for example. Go back and check your return, then search again with the correct number.

The tracker does not tell you why a return is taking longer than expected, whether there is a problem with it, or what the state is doing at that moment. It only shows the stage the return is in. If your return has been in "Return received" for more than 30 days, or if it shows "Refund sent" but you have not received the money after two weeks, you need to contact the Department of Revenue by phone or mail.

How long Maryland takes to process and send refunds

Maryland typically processes returns within 30 days of receiving them. That clock starts when the state's system records your filing, not when you submit it—there can be a lag of a few days between when you file and when the state logs it. Once the state approves your return and issues the refund, the payment method determines how long it takes to reach you.

Direct deposit is faster. If you chose direct deposit on your return, the money usually arrives in your bank account within one to three business days after the state marks the refund as sent. Check your bank's processing times—some banks post deposits the same day, others take longer.

Paper checks take longer. If the state is mailing you a check, allow 7 to 10 business days from the date the tracker shows "Refund sent." Mail delivery varies by location and time of year. If you have not received a check within two weeks of the "Refund sent" date, the check may have been lost in the mail.

What to do if the tracker shows no record of your return

If you search and get "No record found," first verify that you are entering the information correctly. Your Social Security number must be exactly nine digits with no spaces or dashes. The refund amount must match your return line by line—if you are unsure, pull up your filed return and read the refund amount directly from it.

If the information is correct and the tracker still shows no record, your return may not have reached Maryland yet. If you filed by mail, allow up to two weeks for the state to receive and log it. If you filed electronically through a tax service, check with that service to confirm they submitted it successfully—sometimes returns are prepared but not actually sent.

If your return was filed more than two weeks ago and the tracker still shows nothing, contact the Maryland Department of Revenue. You can call their tax refund line at 410-260-7980 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time) or mail a written inquiry to the Department of Revenue, 80 Calvert Street, Annapolis, MD 21411. Have your Social Security number, filing date, and refund amount ready.

If your refund was sent but you have not received it

If the tracker shows "Refund sent" but you have not received the money, the first step depends on your payment method. For direct deposit, check your bank account carefully—sometimes deposits post to a different account than you expect, or your bank may have flagged it as pending. Contact your bank and ask them to search for any deposits from the Maryland Department of Revenue in the past two weeks.

For a mailed check, wait the full 10 business days from the "Refund sent" date before assuming it is lost. If two weeks have passed and you still have not received it, contact the Department of Revenue. They can tell you whether the check was cashed, and if not, they can issue a replacement or send the refund by direct deposit instead.

If your direct deposit was rejected—because the account number was wrong or the account was closed—the state will usually mail you a check instead. The tracker may not update to show this, so if your direct deposit was supposed to arrive and did not, call the Department of Revenue to confirm what happened.

Contacting Maryland about your refund

The Department of Revenue has a dedicated refund phone line: 410-260-7980. Call Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Have your Social Security number, filing date, and the refund amount ready. The wait time varies, but the line is usually shorter early in the week and early in the morning.

You can also write to the Department of Revenue, 80 Calvert Street, Annapolis, MD 21411, but mail takes longer. Include your name, Social Security number, filing date, and refund amount, and explain what you need. Allow two to three weeks for a response.

Do not contact the Maryland tax office through social media or email unless you have a specific email address from the Department of Revenue website. Scammers sometimes pose as the tax department on social media, so stick to the official phone number or mailing address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my refund status if I filed jointly?

Yes. Use the primary filer's Social Security number and the total refund amount from the joint return. The tracker does not distinguish between joint and individual returns—it only needs the SSN and amount to find your filing.

What if I filed an amended return?

The tracker shows the status of your most recent filing. If you filed an amended return, search using the refund amount from the amended return, not the original one. Amended returns take longer to process—usually 60 days or more—so do not be alarmed if it shows "Return received" for several weeks.

Does the tracker work on weekends or holidays?

The tracker is available 24/7, but the Department of Revenue does not process returns on weekends or state holidays. If you check on a Saturday and the status has not changed since Friday, that is normal. Processing resumes on the next business day.

What if I owe taxes instead of getting a refund?

The refund tracker only shows refund status. If you owe taxes, you will not see a record in the tracker. The Department of Revenue will send you a bill by mail if you owe. You can also log into your account on marylandtaxes.gov to see your balance.

Can I change my refund to direct deposit if I chose a check?

Not after you file. If your return shows "Refund sent" by check and you want direct deposit instead, you have to wait for the check to arrive, then contact the Department of Revenue to request a replacement by direct deposit. Bring your bank account information and routing number.