How to Check Your Arkansas State Tax Refund Status

You can check your Arkansas state tax refund status through the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the Arkansas.gov portal, which connects to the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point.¹ You will need your Social Security Number, the exact refund amount from your return, and the tax year. Electronically filed returns generally take two to four weeks to process, and paper returns take six to eight.²

What to Have Ready

Three pieces of information pull up your record: your Social Security Number, the exact refund amount shown on your filed Arkansas return, and the tax year you want to check. The refund figure has to match to the penny. Enter it even slightly off and the system will not find you.

Checking Online

Go to the “Where’s My Refund?” page on the Arkansas.gov portal, which routes you to the Taxpayer Access Point.¹ Enter your SSN, the refund amount, and the tax year, then submit. The page returns your current status. You can also reach the tool through the DFA’s tax refunds page.³ It runs around the clock. If you just filed, give the system a few days to register the return before you expect a result.

Checking by Phone

If the portal is not an option, call DFA Taxpayer Assistance. The number depends on where you are:

Inside Pulaski County or outside Arkansas: 501-682-1100
Elsewhere in Arkansas: 800-882-9275 (toll-free)

Have your SSN, refund amount, and tax year in front of you. Waits get long during early spring filing season, so the online tool is usually faster.⁴

How Long Refunds Take

Timing depends on how you filed and how you asked to be paid. E-filed returns take about two to four weeks from acceptance.² Paper returns take six to eight weeks from the postmark date. Direct deposit is faster than a mailed check; you set it up by entering your bank routing and account numbers on the return. If the wait has run past those windows, check the online tool before calling. It will show whether the DFA is still processing your return or whether something flagged it for review.

What the Status Labels Mean

Received. The DFA has your return but has not started reviewing it.
Processing. The return is under active review. Most move through this stage without any issue.
Approved. Review is done and the refund is authorized.
Refund Issued. The payment has gone out. Direct deposits usually post within a few business days; paper checks take longer.
Under Review. Something needs a closer look, such as a math error, missing information, or a mismatch with DFA records. The department may write to ask for documentation.

An “Under Review” status does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. The DFA also pulls returns for routine fraud checks. If they need more from you, a letter will arrive by mail explaining what to send.

Why Your Refund Might Be Smaller Than Expected

The usual reason a refund arrives short is an offset. Arkansas law lets courts and state agencies pull from a tax refund to cover certain debts. Under the state setoff program, fines, penalties, court fees, costs, and restitution owed to courts or law enforcement can be taken directly from your income tax refund.

Past-due child support is another common one. The Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement can offset your state refund when the overdue amount reaches $150 or more and payments are at least three months behind.⁵ If your refund was offset, you should get a notice showing how much was taken and where it went. Disputes go to the agency that claimed the debt, not the DFA, since the DFA only processes the deduction.

A smaller refund can also come from the DFA correcting a math error or disallowing a credit. When that happens, the DFA sends a notice of adjustment explaining the change and how to dispute it.

What to Do If Your Refund Is Late

Compare your situation to the standard windows first. Wait at least four weeks from acceptance for an e-filed return, and at least eight weeks from the postmark for a paper return.² Calling earlier rarely helps, because the return is likely still in the normal queue.

If the window has passed and the tool still shows “Processing,” call DFA Taxpayer Assistance at 501-682-1100 or 800-882-9275.⁴ Common reasons for delays include incomplete information, a mismatch between the income on your return and what your employer reported, or an identity verification hold. Amended returns are a different story; they are reviewed by hand and take considerably longer than the standard windows above.

Watch for Refund Scams

Filing season brings a wave of phishing. The DFA has warned that scammers send texts and emails posing as the department to collect personal information. The real DFA will not text you asking for your Social Security Number, bank details, or tax account credentials.⁶ Do not click links in unsolicited messages. Go straight to the Arkansas.gov portal or use the phone numbers above. If you think someone filed a return in your name, contact the DFA and file an identity theft report with local law enforcement.

1
Arkansas.gov. Where’s My Refund?
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. DFA Announces Filing Details
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Tax Refunds Archives
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Helpful Contacts
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Receiving Support
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. DFA Warns Taxpayers of Phishing Scam