DETROIT – Michigan residents who filed their state tax returns weeks — or even months — ago are still waiting on their refunds, and many say they’re not getting answers. Viewers reached out to Local 4’s Help Desk frustrated by what they describe as a lack of transparency from the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Janesha Johnson, one of those viewers, described what many are experiencing.
“Many taxpayers, including myself, have experienced prolonged ‘pending review’ statuses with little to no communication from the Michigan Department of Treasury regarding timelines, required documentation, or the reason for the delay,” Johnson wrote.
Another viewer said they filed in late January and were told to expect a refund within six to eight weeks.
“Here we are months later, and many of us are still waiting — with no clear answers,” the viewer wrote on April 5.
What is the typical refund timeline?
Jarael Major, a certified public accountant with Major CPA Tax and Accounting Services, says most people should see their state refund sooner than they might think.
“Refunds [are] processed within the 8 to 21 day window. Typically, you’ll see most come through within like 14 days,” Major said.
The Michigan Department of Treasury, however, cites a longer standard window. For e-filed returns, the state’s expected processing timeframe is four to six weeks. For mailed returns, it’s six to eight weeks from the postmark date.
The department says nearly 90 percent of returns are being processed and refunds issued within that four-to-six-week window.
The remaining 10 percent, involve complex returns, errors, identity verification flags, or cases requiring additional review, officials say.
Common reasons for delays
Major says most delays fall into a few key categories.
“Either it’s a timing issue, an accuracy issue, some type of identity protection issue, or some type of fraud,” Major said.
One common accuracy issue: filing a return that doesn’t include all income documents.
“Maybe someone had three different W-2s and only submitted a return with two of them reported,” Major said.
The state also flags certain tax credits for closer review. Refundable credits — such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Homestead Property Tax Credit and the Home Heating Credit — tend to take more time to process.
Taxpayers who owe a debt or have a court-ordered garnishment may also see their refund intercepted to pay a past-due bill. The Michigan Department of Treasury says this is not a new policy and occurs every tax season.
Tips for last-minute filers
With the April 15 deadline approaching, Major says accuracy and completeness are critical.
“Make sure that all documents are included — if you got a 1099-R from a distribution from a retirement account, if you have all your W-2s, just make sure everything is included,” Major said. “Also, just make sure that whatever you are reporting is accurate.”
Filing electronically, Major adds, is one of the most effective ways to speed up the process.
“File electronically. [It] speeds up the process exponentially versus bombing by paper,” Major said.
How to track your Michigan state tax refund
Major recommends starting online if a refund seems delayed.
“I would advise that they first visit michigan.gov/taxes and look up their refund status there,” Major said. “Typically, you’ll get some information, whether that says the refund is still being processed or your refund is being held for this, but it’ll give you some type of guidance by tracking it online.”
He also urges taxpayers to watch their mailboxes closely.
“The second thing is be on the lookout for any correspondence via mail. So, if there is an issue, the IRS or the state of Michigan does not physically call you — so that could be a scam,” Major said. “They always communicate via U.S. mail.”
For those who need to speak with someone directly, the Michigan Department of Treasury recommends calling during non-peak hours, such as mid-morning or the afternoon.
Taxpayers can also correspond through Michigan Treasury eServices online.
What about the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’?
Major also notes that new federal tax legislation has added complexity to this filing season.
“This year was the January 1st, 2026 — the new tax law from the Big Beautiful Bill went into effect,” Major said. “One of the big ones is increased state and local tax deductions — used to be capped at $10,000, up to $40,000. There have been smaller increases in child tax credits, filing statuses, no tax on tips [and] overtime.”
He says the new provisions have prompted many questions from clients about how the changes affect their individual returns.
Where things stand
As of early April, the Michigan Department of Treasury reported processing more than 3.3 million state individual income tax returns and issuing more than $2 billion in refunds since the filing season opened Jan. 26.
The department says that pace is at the same rate — if not higher — than the previous year.