Tax Center

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The timing of when you'll receive your refund varies based on the method you used to file your return. If you filed a paper return, the IRS typically sends out refund checks within six to eight weeks. However, if you opted for direct deposit, you can expect to receive your refund within about a week. For e-filed returns, the refund is usually issued between two to three weeks. 

To track the status of your refund, you can click on the provided links below.

Check your Federal Refund… click here

Check your State Refund… click here

 Storing tax records: How long should you keep them? 

Federal law mandates that you retain copies of your tax returns and supporting documents for three years, known as the "three-year law." This requirement often leads individuals to believe that keeping records for this period is sufficient. 

However, if the IRS suspects significant underreporting of income (25% or more) or detects potential fraud, they may conduct an audit going back six years. To err on the safe side, follow the guidelines below. 

Create electronic backups of your records: It has become easier than ever to maintain backup records electronically. Many financial institutions offer electronic statements, and a wealth of financial information is available online. Even if you receive paper statements, you can scan and convert them to a digital format. Once in electronic form, you can store the documents on an external hard drive, burn them onto a CD or DVD (remember to label it), or consider online backup for added protection against natural disasters. 

Be cautious with document disposal: Identity theft is a significant concern nowadays. Once you no longer need to keep tax records, financial statements, or any other documents containing personal information, ensure their secure disposal. Shredding these records is the recommended method, rather than simply throwing them in the trash. 

Business Documents to Keep for Different Durations: 

One Year: 

Correspondence with customers and vendors 

Duplicate deposit slips 

Purchase orders (except purchasing department copy) 

Receiving sheets 

Requisitions 

Stenographer's notebooks 

Stockroom withdrawal forms 

Three Years: 

Employee personnel records (after termination) 

Employment applications 

Expired insurance policies 

General correspondence 

Internal audit reports 

Internal reports 

Petty cash vouchers 

Physical inventory tags 

Savings bond registration records of employees 

Time cards for hourly employees 

Six Years: 

Accident reports and claims 

Accounts payable ledgers and schedules 

Accounts receivable ledgers and schedules 

Bank statements and reconciliations 

Cancelled checks 

Cancelled stock and bond certificates 

Employment tax records 

Expense analysis and expense distribution schedules 

Expired contracts and leases 

Expired option records 

Inventories of products, materials, supplies 

Invoices to customers 

Notes receivable ledgers and schedules 

Payroll records and summaries, including payments to pensioners 

Plant cost ledgers 

Purchasing department copies of purchase orders 

Sales records 

Subsidiary ledgers 

Time books 

Travel and entertainment records 

Vouchers for payments to vendors, employees, etc. 

Voucher register and schedules 

Business Records to Keep Forever: 

While federal guidelines do not require keeping tax records forever, there may be other reasons to retain these documents indefinitely. Some examples include audit reports from CPAs/accountants, cancelled checks for important payments (especially tax payments), cash books, charts of accounts, contracts and leases currently in effect, corporate documents (incorporation, charter, by-laws), documents substantiating fixed asset additions, deeds, depreciation schedules, financial statements (year-end), general and private ledgers, year-end trial balances, insurance records, current accident reports, claims, policies, investment trade confirmations, IRS revenue agents' reports, journals, legal records, correspondence, and other important matters, minute books of directors and stockholders, mortgages, bills of sale, property appraisals by outside appraisers, property records, retirement and pension records, tax returns, and worksheets, trademark and patent registrations. 

Personal Documents to Keep for Different Durations: 

One Year: 

Bank statements 

Paycheck stubs (reconcile with W-2) 

Cancelled checks 

Monthly and quarterly mutual fund and retirement contribution statements (reconcile with year-end statement) 

Three Years: 

Credit card statements 

Medical bills (in case of insurance disputes) 

Utility records 

Expired insurance policies 

Six Years: 

Supporting documents for tax returns 

Accident reports and claims 

Medical bills (if tax-related) 

Property records/improvement receipts 

Sales receipts 

Wage garnishments 

Other tax-related bills 

Personal Documents to Keep Forever: 

CPA audit reports 

Legal records 

Important correspondence 

Income tax returns 

Income tax payment checks 

Investment trade confirmations 

Retirement and pension records 

Special Circumstances: 

Car records (keep until the car is sold) 

Credit card receipts (keep with your credit card statement) 

Insurance policies (keep for the life of the policy) 

Mortgages/deeds/leases (keep for six years beyond the agreement) 

Pay stubs (keep until reconciled with your W-2) 

Property records/improvement receipts (keep until the property is sold) 

Sales receipts (keep for the life of the warranty) 

Stock and bond records (keep for six years beyond selling) 

Warranties and instructions (keep for the life of the product) 

Other bills (keep until payment is verified on the next bill) 

Depreciation schedules and other capital asset records (keep for three years after the tax life of the asset)