Check your refund status through the Missouri Department of Revenue website

The Missouri Department of Revenue runs a refund tracker on its website where you can see the status of your state tax refund. Go to dor.mo.gov, find the "Where's My Refund?" tool, and enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return. The tool shows you whether your return has been received, is being processed, has been approved, or has been issued.

The tracker updates once per day, usually overnight. If you filed electronically, your return typically appears in the system within 24 hours. If you mailed a paper return, allow 7 to 10 business days before the system recognizes it.

You do not need to create an account or log in to use the tracker. The tool works on any device with internet access, and Missouri does not charge a fee to check your status.

Key Takeaways

  • The Missouri Department of Revenue's "Where's My Refund?" tool is the official way to track your state refund status, and it updates once daily.
  • Electronic returns appear in the system within 24 hours; mailed returns take 7 to 10 business days to show up.
  • Standard processing takes 21 to 30 days from the date your return is received, but returns with errors or missing information take longer.
  • If your refund was issued more than 60 days ago and you have not received it, contact the Department of Revenue directly by phone or mail.
  • Your federal refund and your Missouri state refund are processed separately and arrive on different timelines.

How long Missouri takes to process refunds

Once the Department of Revenue receives your return, standard processing takes 21 to 30 days. This timeline assumes your return is complete, has no errors, and does not require manual review. The clock starts from the date the department receives your return, not the date you filed it.

If your return has errors—a missing signature, a math mistake, or information that does not match Department of Revenue records—processing stops. The department sends you a notice by mail explaining what is missing or wrong. You then have 30 days to respond. Once you send the correction, processing resumes and takes another 21 to 30 days.

Returns that trigger identity verification checks or are flagged for fraud review take significantly longer, sometimes 60 to 90 days or more. These delays are not common, but they happen when your return looks unusual compared to your prior returns or when the department detects a mismatch with federal records.

What the refund tracker status messages mean

Return Received: The department has your return and has begun processing it. You should see this status within 24 hours of e-filing or 7 to 10 days after mailing.

Return Being Processed: Your return is in the queue and is being reviewed for completeness and accuracy. This is the longest phase and typically lasts 21 to 30 days.

Return Approved: The department has approved your return and calculated your refund amount. This status usually appears a few days before the refund is issued.

Refund Issued: Your refund has been processed and sent to you. If you chose direct deposit, the money is on its way to your bank account. If you chose a check, it has been mailed to your address on file.

How refunds are delivered: direct deposit versus check

When you filed your return, you chose how to receive your refund: direct deposit to a bank account or a paper check mailed to your address. Direct deposit is faster. Money typically arrives in your account within 3 to 5 business days after the refund is issued. A check takes 7 to 14 business days to arrive by mail, depending on postal service speed and your location.

If you chose direct deposit, the refund tracker will show the account number (with the last four digits visible) where the money is going. Double-check this information. If the account number is wrong, your refund will go to the wrong bank, and you will need to contact that bank to recover it.

If you chose a check and the refund was issued more than 14 days ago, check your mailbox carefully. Checks sometimes arrive in envelopes that look like junk mail. If you are certain the check did not arrive, contact the Department of Revenue with your refund issue number (shown in the tracker) and request a replacement check or direct deposit to a bank account instead.

What to do if your refund is delayed or missing

If the tracker shows your refund was issued more than 60 days ago and you have not received it, contact the Missouri Department of Revenue. Call the refund hotline at 573-751-3505 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time). Have your Social Security number, filing status, and refund amount ready.

If you prefer to write, send a letter to the Missouri Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 311, Jefferson City, MO 65105. Include your name, Social Security number, the tax year, your filing status, and the refund amount. Explain that your refund was issued on [date] and you have not received it. Mail takes 2 to 3 weeks to reach the department, so call if you need a faster response.

If your refund was issued by direct deposit and did not arrive in your account, contact your bank first. Ask them to search for the deposit using the refund issue number from the tracker. If the bank confirms the money never arrived, they can help you file a claim with the Department of Revenue.

Federal and state refunds are separate

Your federal income tax refund and your Missouri state refund are processed by different agencies on different schedules. The IRS handles your federal refund; the Missouri Department of Revenue handles your state refund. You can track them separately using different tools.

For your federal refund, use the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool at irs.gov. For your Missouri refund, use the Department of Revenue tool at dor.mo.gov. One refund may arrive weeks before the other. If you filed both returns at the same time, do not assume they will be issued on the same day.

If you owe federal taxes but are owed a Missouri refund, the federal government can intercept your state refund to pay down the federal debt. This is called a tax offset. If this happens, the Department of Revenue will send you a notice explaining the offset. Your state refund will be reduced or eliminated, but your federal debt will be reduced by that amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the tracker say my return is being processed but it has been 45 days?

Standard processing is 21 to 30 days, but some returns take longer. If your return required identity verification, had errors that needed correction, or was flagged for manual review, it can take 60 to 90 days. Check your mail for any notices from the Department of Revenue asking for additional information or clarification.

Can I call the Department of Revenue to speed up my refund?

No. The department processes returns in the order they are received. Calling does not move your return to the front of the queue. However, if your refund was issued more than 60 days ago and you have not received it, calling is the right step to investigate what happened.

What if I filed my return but the tracker does not show it?

If you e-filed, wait 24 hours. If you mailed a paper return, wait 7 to 10 business days. If the tracker still does not show your return after that time, contact the Department of Revenue at 573-751-3505 to confirm they received it. Have your filing confirmation number (from e-filing) or your mailed return's tracking number ready.

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

Once your return is filed, you cannot change the delivery method through the tracker. If your refund has not been issued yet, contact the Department of Revenue by phone at 573-751-3505 and ask if they can change it to direct deposit. If your refund has already been issued as a check, you must wait for the check to arrive or request a replacement by contacting the department.

What happens if my refund check is lost in the mail?

Contact the Department of Revenue with your refund issue number and the date the refund was issued. They can issue a replacement check or, if you prefer, deposit the refund directly to a bank account. The process takes 2 to 4 weeks.