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Colorado 2025 Return Still Not Processing?

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
February 18, 2026
31 replies
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Is everyone else experiencing a long delay with Colorado starting to process your return after it shows accepted in TurboTax?

Best answer by tjbc

Same here, same timeframe and Colorado website says same status.

Good News everyone!

My Colorado State return has moved from "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" to "Return Received & Being Processed". It took 14 days from the time the return showed "Accepted" in TurboTax, which is when Colorado state placed it in their "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" BLACK HOLE queue, until it advanced to the "Return Received & Being Processed" stage. So, hang in there everyone. There is actually light at the end of tunnel! This should help everyone with their expectations on how long it's taking Colorado to start processing returns.

So, in summary:

My return showed "Accepted" in TurboTax on February 5, 2026. This is when Colorado state placed it in their "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" BLACK HOLE queue.
The return advanced to the "Return Received & Being Processed" stage on February 19, 2026.
Hence, the 14 day timeframe for Colorado to start processing my return.

Tip: Click on the pic below for an easier to read view.

M

mesquitebean

Level 15

@ tjbc wrote: Colorado 2025 return still not processing
Is everyone else experiencing a long delay with Colorado starting to process your return after it shows accepted in TurboTax?

It's not clear by what you mean by "starting" to process the return? Does that mean you can't find any evidence of it at the Colorado DOR refund lookup tool linked below?

As for timeframes to receive the refund once processed, the Colorado DOR website says:

On average, expect the following timeframes before receiving your refund:

e-filing: 3-5 weeks

paper filing: up to 3 months

Follow your status here:

Colorado refund lookup tool:

https://tax.colorado.gov/refund

NOTE: At the tool, once you click "Check my refund" and go to the next page, you don't have to sign up and log in with a username, etc. You can scroll down that second page a bit to a "Where's My Refund for Individuals" link that goes right to the tool entry without needing to log in with a username. It's kinda hidden, but there is a message near the top right that says to go to that link to avoid a username.

T

tjbcAuthor

Level 5

In TT my Colorado return was accepted by the state on 2/5/26. The status on the Colorado Department of Revenue site is still showing the following. Just wondering if it's taking this long for everyone else for Colorado to show "Return Received & Being Processed"?

T

tjbcAuthor

Level 5

Is there another active thread where people are asking this same type of question?

A

Angelliena1

Level 2

Mine took forever to go from processing to lost. 18 days later(accepted 02/01) & it says "return not received", please file your tax return by April 15th. I wish I did my taxes for free instead of $250 in the hopes it'd be quick & painless. Even the IRS said it sent mail, which I haven't received. I thought it'd help being newly self employed.

Anyways, I am venting but all will be reviewed & figured out some day! Currently-Colorado shows that I have no return on my account page. (IF I try to track it then it says processing) I called Tuesday morning. They said it's in review stage but they'd send a letter if they need more information. Hopefully yours doesn't play hiding tricks too. Thankfully, I didn't submit a new return before calling. If that happens to you then plz call first or it'll hold your refund up longer.

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T46

Level 2

Yes. TT says accepted 2/01, as of today 2/20-still not showing accepted/processing on Colorado website. Very frustrating.

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tjbcAuthor

Level 5

T46, Thanks for sharing. We all do share in your frustration. It sounds like your return has been in the dreaded Colorado State "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" BLACK HOLE queue for almost 3 weeks. I've nicknamed this the dreaded Colorado state BLACK HOLE because we have no idea what number we are in line with everyone else in the queue. I wish Colorado State would provide our number in line when we check the status of our return. It would certainly go a long way in appeasing tax filers frustration since our returns are in this queue so long. I'm not holding my breathe though waiting for the State to do this. Anyway, I would recommend you call the Colorado State Tax Line, at (303-238-SERV), in the next week or two if your return doesn't advance to the next queue. Ask to speak to a live person.

Please continue to update us with your experience in this thread. It will help everyone else in the same situation to set some level of expectation with their return.

T

T46

Level 2

Will do. Likely won’t have any new info until next week since it’s now the weekend.

C

CuriousCustomer

Level 2

My colorado return was accepted on 1/22, changed to received and processing on 2/1, and has been sitting there ever since. No updates, no changes, no actions to take. My federal was accepted 1/26 and I was on path and already received it so not sure why my state isn't moving. 🤷‍♀️

T

tjbcAuthor

Level 5

UPDATE: My Colorado State return has now advanced to the "Refund Approved and Sent" final stage.

Tip: Click on the pic below for an easier to read view.

So, here's an updated summary of the timeline for Colorado to process my tax return, so far:

My return showed "Accepted" in TurboTax on February 5, 2026. This is when Colorado state placed it in their "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" BLACK HOLE queue.
My return advanced to the "Return Received & Being Processed" stage on February 19, 2026.
The timeline to this point shows it took Colorado 14 days to start processing my return.
My return advanced to the "Refund Reviewed" stage on, February 21, 2026.
I added 2 more days to the timeline, which made it 16 days at this point.
My return advanced to the "Refund Approved and Sent" final stage today, February 28, 2026.
I added 7 more days to the timeline, which is now at 23 days.
I am now waiting for the refund to be deposited to my checking account. I will post a final update once that happens.

This is just my opinion. I believe these extended timelines are now the new norm for Colorado State to process tax returns because of the additional measures they take to prevent fraud. Also, when they start processing returns at the beginning of each tax season, it takes them time to ramp up and catch up with the backlog of early filers. Hopefully this will help everyone to somewhat set your own expectations for the processing of your tax return with the State. Hang in their everyone! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

T

tjbcAuthor

Level 5

FINAL UPDATE: My Colorado State refund has now been completely processed and the refund deposited into my checking account.

Tip: Click on the pic below for an easier to read view.

So, here's a final summary of the timeline for Colorado State to process my tax return and deposit my refund:

My return showed "Accepted" in TurboTax on February 5, 2026. This is when Colorado state placed it in their "Return Not Received or Not Yet Processed" BLACK HOLE queue.
My return advanced to the "Return Received & Being Processed" stage on February 19, 2026.
The timeline to this point shows it took Colorado 14 days to start processing my return.
My return advanced to the "Refund Reviewed" stage on February 21, 2026.
I added 2 more days to the timeline, which made it 16 days at this point.
My return advanced to the "Refund Approved and Sent" final stage on February 28, 2026.
I added 7 more days to the timeline, which made it 23 days at this point.
My refund was deposited into my checking account on March 3, 2026.
I added 3 more days to the timeline, which made it a total of 26 days for Colorado State to completely process my return and deposit the refund into my account.

This is just my opinion. I believe these extended timelines are now the new norm for Colorado State to process tax returns because of the additional measures they take to prevent fraud. Also, when they start processing returns at the beginning of each tax season, it takes them time to ramp up and catch up with the backlog of early filers. Hopefully this will help everyone to somewhat set your own expectations for the processing of your tax return with the State. Hang in their everyone! There is light at the end of the tunnel!