Does receiving your state refund mean that your return is already processed?

[dmgallardo29]

This is my first time doing my taxes, and I have already received my california state refund. My question is whether receiving my refund means that my return was already processed or are they still processing it.?

Any thoughts.

Thanks 

[xmasbaby0]

If you received your state refund it means your state tax return has been processed by your state.   Your federal tax return is processed by the IRS.   Did you get a federal refund too?  Or are you still waiting?   Federal and state tax returns are processed separately by completely separate entities.

[SteamTrain]

Nahhhh.  I find it unlikely that you would receive a CA state refund for 2021 taxes now.   

Perhaps a really late-file 2020 CA tax return's refund might come thru any time, or some adjustment from a 2020 CA tax filing

...............but one can't print and mail in a 2021 CA tax return until today (13th of Jan), so that wouldn't be processed by CA for weeks...months after CA actually gets it in the mail.

.....and 2021 CA e-filed tax returns won't even be started until after 24 Jan for "simple" tax returns.

[dmgallardo29]

The refund was for the 2020 tax return

[xmasbaby0]

@dmgallardo29 Then the state is done with your 2020 state return.    If you have not yet received a federal refund, the IRS is backlogged and is still working on your federal refund for 2020.

[dmgallardo29]

I have not received my federal refund yet, just the state one