Is it just me or does Illinois take forever to send your tax refund? (unemployment)

[Kluch]

I've noticed this every year I've lived in Illinois. This past year we were part year residents since we moved to Indiana in September. But it again became evident when I received our federal and Indiana refunds weeks ago. When I check the Illinois refund tool it just says 'we have received your return, please allow time for it to process'.
I can't say I'm surprised based on the the financial state of Illinois as a whole, but it's a bit frustrating when the federal gov't sends their refund weeks sooner... anyone else feel the same way? I suppose you just get used to it.

[G in MP]

Oh Illinois! I wouldn't hold my breath for IL dept of rev, is gonna be a minute if their turnaround is anything like how the IL state police is doing things. I've been waiting on my renewed foid card since Jan 2020. Unreal.

[reneeh63]

Yes....always...so you should adjust your withholding and just get it through the year rather than wait.

[noid_1985]

Illinois is slow with everything unfortunately

[RemoteInWisco]

I still lived in Illinois for the bulk of 2020 and I filed mine in late January, federal also, via Turbo Tax and it was accepted on February the 12th. It's not much. A whopping 175 bucks, but I was certainly not expecting it to take this long. Got my federal back weeks ago.

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by reneeh63

Yes....always...so you should adjust your withholding and just get it through the year rather than wait.

Absolutely, the best way is to calculate it so you owe the state some small amount (maybe fifty bucks), so there are no penalties, it doesn't "shock" your April budget, and you don't have to wait on them. Just adjust your W-2 early in the year, and claim whatever amount of dependents that puts you slightly in the red with them.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by Curly Q. Bobalink

Absolutely, the best way is to calculate it so you owe the state some small amount (maybe fifty bucks), so there are no penalties, it doesn't "shock" your April budget, and you don't have to wait on them. Just adjust your W-2 early in the year, and claim whatever amount of dependents that puts you slightly in the red with them.

I wish it was that easy now. After they changed the tax system last year and did away with allowances it has become so much more painful to adjust your with-holdings.

[masssachoicetts]

i hear people in florida are still waiting for unemployment filed way back in October 2020.

[wjj]

Originally Posted by Kluch

I wish it was that easy now. After they changed the tax system last year and did away with allowances it has become so much more painful to adjust your with-holdings.

That was federal, not Illinois. Illinois still has personal exemption amounts and is easy to adjust. Either way, it is easier to apply any refund to the following year's taxes and adjust estimated tax payments or withholding yourself and not rely on government to do anything.

[Avondalist]

As crazy as it may sound with the spending problem this state has, Illinois actually has an understaffed state government. That's a combination of a comparatively low state income tax rate and so much of the revenue coming in going straight out the door as pensions and retiree benefits.