To request a tax refund, file an Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S) or Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26). An application form may be completed to request moneys paid into the State Treasury for a tax overpayment, payment when tax was not due, or payment made in error.
When submitting your refund application online, a confirmation page will be displayed with a confirmation number on it. Print the page or write down the confirmation number for your records. The Florida Department of Revenue may notify you within 30 days of the refund submission of any documentation required to process your refund claim. The application will not be considered valid until all supporting documentation is received by the Department.
How to Apply
Online: For Sales and Use Tax or Surtax, apply using Form DR-26S application.
For all other taxes, except Reemployment Tax, apply using Form DR-26 application.
Send supporting documentation electronically.
Mail or Fax: Select the appropriate form: Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S ), or Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26 ), then mail or fax the completed application with the supporting documentation to:
Florida Department of Revenue
Refund Process
PO Box 6490
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6490
Fax number: 850-410-2526
Note: Reemployment tax overpayments are automatically refunded. If you have questions or are due a reemployment tax refund, contact the Department's Refund Process at 850-617-8585.
Documentation Required
Before you begin, gather specific information about the tax refund you are requesting. The following information is needed to complete your application for a refund:
- The tax type (sales, corporate, etc.)
- The exact amount of the refund you are requesting
- The identification number under which the tax was paid (one of the following):
- Social Security Number
- Federal Employer Identification Number for your business
- Aviation Fuels License Permit Number
- Motor Fuels License Permit Number
- Sales Tax Certificate Number
- Business Partner Number
- Contract Object Number
The collection period shown on the tax return for which you are requesting a refundThe reason or statutory basis for requesting the refundWhether you apply online or by mail, you must provide the Department with documentation to support your refund application. The Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S ) and the Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26 ) each contain a suggested list of additional items or documentation needed to process your refund claim.
Sales Tax Refund Sampling
Taxpayers may establish the amount of a refund or deficiency of sales and use taxes (SUT) by conducting a statistical sample of their records. Taxpayers may also use other sampling methods agreed upon by both the taxpayer and the Department. Taxpayers must submit a completed and signed Refund Sampling Methodology Application for Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-370060 ) to receive approval of a sampling method. The sample results will be provided to the Department as described by Refund Sampling Results (Form DR-370061). Note: The filing of an Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S ) initiates the refund process.
For more information, contact the Department's Refund Process at 850-617-8585.
Time Limit for Claiming a Refund
The refund claim must be received by the Department within 3 years of the date the tax was paid. Some claims have a different statute of limitations: bad debts (12 months), repossessed merchandise (12 months), and enterprise zone expenditures (6 months). For more information, see the Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S ) or the Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26 ) Frequently Asked Questions section.
Check Refund Status and Send Supporting Documentation
After submitting an Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S) or an Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26), you can check the status of your refund request and send supporting documentation online. The Application for Refund - Sales and Use Tax (Form DR-26S ) and the Application for Refund - All Other Taxes (Form DR-26 ) each contain a suggested list of additional items or documentation needed to process your refund claim.
If Your Refund Claim Is Denied
If the Department denies your refund claim or if you disagree with the auditor's adjustments to your claim, you may file a protest .
FAQs
For more information, contact the Department's Refund Process at 850-617-8585.
How do I check my refunds? ›
Use the IRS Where's My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to check your refund online. This is the fastest and easiest way to track your refund. The systems are updated once every 24 hours. You can contact the IRS to check on the status of your refund.
How do I speak to someone at the Florida Department of Revenue? ›
If you are unable to connect when dialing (850) 488-6800, please try again later, review our frequently asked questions for an answer, or contact a local service center. The General Tax Administration Taxpayer Services Call Center is experiencing high call volumes and wait times.
How do I check my refund processing? ›
Taxpayers can view status of refund 10 days after their refund has been sent by the Assessing Officer to the Refund Banker. Status of 'paid' refund, being paid other than through 'Refund Banker', can also be viewed at www.tin-nsdl.com by entering the 'PAN' and 'Assessment Year'.
Why is my refund taking so long? ›
Why is my refund taking so long? A refund will take longer if you file by mail or don't select direct deposit. In addition, if the return is more complex or corrections are needed, it may slow the process down.
Where are tax refunds deposited? ›
Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take 5 days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.
How long does it take for a refund to be approved? ›
(updated December 22, 2023) We issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, if you mailed your return and expect a refund, it could take four weeks or more to process your return.
How to find refund amount on tax return? ›
If you filed Form 1040-PR or Form 1040SS, the refund amount is found on Line 14a.
Does the Florida Department of Revenue call people? ›
The purpose of a legitimate call from the Florida Department of Revenue is to confirm the business is still open, what type of industry your business is in, and the proper contact information for your business (mail, phone, email).
How do I talk to a real person at the Internal Revenue Service? ›
More In Help
Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 (toll-free) and use the automated system, or speak with a representative by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation). If you filed a married filing jointly return, you can't initiate a trace using the automated systems.
A delinquency notice (Notice of Delinquency) is issued when a return is not filed and a bill (Notice of Amount Due) is issued when a return is filed late or additional money is due. The delinquency notice indicates a return has not been filed, while the initial bill contains a breakdown of the additional amount due.
How do I know if my refund is being processed? ›
Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It's available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App.
How can I check the status of my IRS refund? ›
The best way to check the status your refund is through Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov. All you need is internet access and this information: Your Social Security numbers.
When to expect a tax refund? ›
We issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, if you mailed your return and expect a refund, it could take four weeks or more to process your return. Where's My Refund?
What day of the week does the IRS deposit refunds? ›
Day of the week for IRS refund deposits
The IRS typically processes tax refunds and executes direct deposit transactions within 21 days after accepting your tax return. It's common for the IRS to issue refunds on business days, from Monday through Friday.
What time does the IRS update the refund status? ›
- You can start checking on the status of your return sooner - within 36 hours after you file your e-filed return or 4 weeks after a mailed paper return. It's Up-to Date! - It's updated every 24 hours - usually overnight -- so you only need to check once a day. There's no need to call IRS unless Where's My Refund?
What if my tax refund was sent to the bank but not received? ›
If you have contacted the financial institution and two weeks have passed with no results, you will need to file Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding RefundPDF to initiate a trace. This allows the IRS to contact the bank on your behalf to attempt recovery of your refund.
