ATLANTA — Doing taxes is an often painful and confusing process, but at least there's a payoff at the end: the refund.
It's really the part people care most about and, as such, the part that can be most irritating when it starts to take a while to arrive.
So, when can you reasonably expect to get your refund?
Federal
The short answer: 21 days or less after you file.
The long answer: It doesn't quite work that easily - there's really no hard and true timetable with these. While the IRS claims it issues refunds in 21 days or less, a lot depends on how you file and request your refund.
Mostly, it comes down to how much mail you can cut out. If you file electronically and request direct deposit for your refund, you can have everything wrapped up in two or three weeks.
If you send in your tax return by mail and ask to get a check back in the mail, you have to wait for the actual mail. In that case, the IRS says it can take about six to eight weeks.
Once your file is received - again, this is faster if you e-file - you can check on your refund status at the IRS website. You'll need to submit your social security number, filing status and exact refund amount to bring up your status.
State
The short answer: 90 days.
The long answer: Again, everything is faster if you file electronically. The state asks for 90 business days to process returns, and recommends filing electronically to speed things along.
As with the IRS, the Georgia Department of Revenue maintains a website where you can check on the status of your refund. You'll need your social security number and expected refund amount to check on it.
MORE HEADLINES