Do Massachusetts state tax refund checks expire?
James Craig
Published Mar 23, 2026
A man is working in his office. Most state income tax refund checks expire six months after they’re issued. If the bank won’t honor your state refund check, you can request a new one through your state’s Department of Revenue.
Does tax refund check expire?
According to the IRS, a tax refund check is good for one full year from the date on which it was issued. It expires on the last day of the 12th month from the month you get the check. Once that year-long period has elapsed, banks consider the check void.
How long is a Massachusetts tax refund check good for?
Do I have one year to cash a Massachusetts tax refund check? The check as a payment instrument doesn’t have any statute of limitations. The limitation also may be based on the specific contract or a law that governs the payment.
How old of a check can I cash?
Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days). Some businesses have “void after 90 days” pre-printed on their checks. Most banks will honor those checks for up to 180 days and the pre-printed language is meant to encourage people to deposit or cash a check sooner than later.
How long does it take for Massachusetts state tax refund?
Electronically filed (E-filed) returns take up to 6 weeks to process. Paper returns take up to 10 weeks.
How to check the status of your Massachusetts tax refund?
Enter your requested refund amount. To check the status of your tax refund by phone, call (617) 887-6367 or toll-free in Massachusetts (800) 392-6089 and follow the automated prompts. Electronically filed (E-filed) returns take up to 6 weeks to process. Paper returns take up to 10 weeks. Contact Us Your one-stop connection to DOR.
When did Massachusetts start following the Internal Revenue Code?
As many of you know, Massachusetts generally follows the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as of January 1, 2005 for personal income tax. When the federal tax law changes, taxpayers may need to adjust federal amounts when filing their Massachusetts return.
How do I cash an old income tax refund check?
The Internal Revenue Service has procedures in place to reissue refund checks which have expired due to age, or which have been lost or destroyed before being cashed. The IRS reports that each year millions of dollars in refunds go unclaimed. Contact the IRS by calling them toll-free at 1-800-829-1954.
How to file Massachusetts personal income tax return?
See Explore filing options for Massachusetts personal income tax returns for more information. Log in to MassTaxConnect. From the Summary tab, locate the Account panel for the return you want to view. Select the Returns hyperlink in the Account panel. Select the View/Amend hyperlink available for the period’s return you want to view.