Where’s my refund, Arkansas? How to check your Arkansas tax refund

An e-filed return is acknowledged within 2 to 3 business days, but DFA notes that ATAP accepting a return is not the same as the return being fully processed.

The current instructions for 2025 returns say to allow up to 10 weeks. DFA’s older guidance was faster: its refund FAQ said e-filed refunds within 21 business days of acknowledgment and paper returns up to 10 weeks, and in April 2024 it said e-filed returns took 4 to 5 weeks and paper returns 6 to 8. DFA has 90 days from the due date or the filing date, whichever is later, to refund without paying interest.

Common causes of delay are math errors, a missing signature, missing W-2s or attachments, moving after filing, filing twice and fraud screening; DFA says it stopped more than $130 million in attempted fraudulent refunds in a year. A rejected direct deposit becomes a paper check, and refunds cannot be deposited to accounts outside the United States.

Many agencies can claim an Arkansas refund, including DFA, the IRS, the Office of Child Support Enforcement, the Department of Human Services, Arkansas courts and colleges, county tax collectors, housing authorities and the Office of Driver Services. You receive a letter saying which agency claimed it. Married couples can protect the share of the spouse who does not owe the debt by filing separately on the same return (filing status 5).

If someone filed an Arkansas return in your name, call 501-682-1100 to ask DFA to hold your account and stop fraudulent refunds, and send DFA a copy of the IRS Form 14039 you filed. An amended return can claim a refund within 3 years of filing or 2 years of paying the tax, whichever is later.