When people ask “when do state taxes come,” they usually mean one of two things:

  1. when state income tax returns are due , or
  2. when a state tax refund is paid out.

I’ll cover both.

When state tax returns are due

Most states line up their income tax filing deadline with the federal due date, which is usually April 15 each year, unless that falls on a weekend or holiday.

However, there are some important nuances:

  • Many states:
    • Use the same deadline as the IRS, typically April 15, for individual income tax returns.
  • A few states use different dates :
    • Delaware and Iowa often use April 30.
* Georgia, Virginia, and some others sometimes use May 1 or mid‑May, depending on the year or disaster relief.

* States can grant special extensions for events like hurricanes or wildfires (example: later deadlines for Alabama, Georgia, and parts of California after specific disasters).
  • If you owe tax, you generally must pay by the state’s due date (often the same as the federal tax day) to avoid penalties and interest.

If you need the exact date for your state for this year, you should check your state department of revenue website or a current-year tax-deadlines page, because specific dates can shift slightly year to year.

When state tax refunds “come in”

State refunds don’t have a single universal timeline, but there are common patterns:

  • Typical time frame
    • Many states pay refunds within about 2–4 weeks for e‑filed returns with direct deposit, sometimes faster early in the season.
* Paper filing or choosing a paper check can push this to 6–8 weeks or more.
  • Why your state refund can come after (or before) federal
    • State and federal returns are processed separately, even if you filed them together through software.
* Some states do extra identity‑verification or fraud checks that slow refunds down.
  • Real‑world forum chatter
    • In recent tax seasons, people posting on tax forums often report getting their federal refund first and then seeing the state refund arrive “anytime” from a few days to a few weeks later, depending on the state and how early they filed.

Most state revenue sites have a “Where’s my refund?” tracker that lets you see status after you enter your Social Security number and refund amount.

Special situations that change “when they come”

A few things that can move state deadlines or refund timing:

  • Disaster relief
    • After major disasters (hurricanes, wildfires, etc.), the IRS and many states grant later filing and payment deadlines for affected areas, sometimes to May 1 or October 15.
  • Extensions
    • If you file an extension for your federal return, many states automatically follow that extension, but you may still need to pay your expected state tax by the original due date.
  • Estimated taxes
    • If you are self‑employed or have large non‑wage income, both the IRS and many states expect quarterly estimated payments, commonly due around April 15, June 15, September 15, and the following January.

Quick HTML table of typical state filing timing

Below is a simplified HTML table (dates are examples based on recent years and can change; always confirm current‑year deadlines for your state):

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>State group</th>
      <th>Typical state income tax due date</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Most states (e.g., CA, NY, IL, TX has no income tax)</td>
      <td>Around April 15</td>
      <td>Often same as federal Tax Day; disaster relief can extend to later dates like Oct. 15 for some areas. [web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Delaware, Iowa</td>
      <td>Around April 30</td>
      <td>State deadline later than federal; check each year’s official schedule. [web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Georgia, Virginia, some others</td>
      <td>Often May 1 or mid‑May</td>
      <td>Dates can shift due to legislation or disaster relief (example: Georgia using May 1 after a hurricane). [web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>All states, refunds</td>
      <td>No fixed date; rolling</td>
      <td>Commonly 2–4 weeks for e‑file + direct deposit, longer for paper or checks; varies widely by state. [web:2][web:4][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Forum-style quick take

“Just got my federal, when does state come in?” is a classic February/March thread, and the unsatisfying but honest answer is: it depends on your state , how you filed , and whether your return triggers any extra checks. Many people see state money a bit after their federal, but in some states it can be the other way around.

TL;DR

  • Filing: State income tax returns are usually due around April 15 , but some states use dates like April 30, May 1, or later, especially with disaster relief.
  • Refunds: State refunds “come” whenever your state processes them—often 2–4 weeks after you e‑file with direct deposit, but timing varies a lot.

If you tell me which state you’re in, I can narrow it down to your specific deadline and typical refund timing.