Maryland Tax Refund 2026: Where’s My MD Refund?

How to Check Your Maryland Tax Refund Status

Go to the Maryland Comptroller’s refund status tool at interactive.marylandtaxes.gov. You can also reach it through marylandtaxes.gov by navigating to Individual Income Tax and selecting refund status. No account login is required for the basic status check.

What You Need

• Your Social Security Number or ITIN
• Your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household, or Qualifying Surviving Spouse)
• The exact refund amount from your Maryland Form 502
• The tax year you are checking

Maryland requires the exact refund amount. If you do not have your return available, retrieve it from the tax software you used to file before checking status. An incorrect amount returns no result.

When to Check

For e-filed returns: wait at least 2 to 3 weeks after your Maryland acknowledgment before checking. For paper returns: wait at least 4 weeks from the date you mailed your return. The Comptroller’s office processes returns in the order received. If status is unavailable after the applicable waiting period, verify your return was submitted correctly before calling 1-800-638-2937.

iFile and Maryland OneStop

Maryland taxpayers can also file and check status through iFile at interactive.marylandtaxes.gov. iFile is the Maryland Comptroller’s free online filing system for simple returns. Taxpayers who used iFile can access their return status directly within that system. Maryland OneStop at onestop.md.gov consolidates state services but redirects tax refund inquiries to marylandtaxes.gov.

Maryland Refund Processing Times

The Maryland Comptroller typically processes e-filed Form 502 returns within approximately 3 weeks when direct deposit is selected. Paper returns require 6 to 8 weeks under standard conditions. During peak filing season (February through April), processing may extend toward the longer end of these windows.

Returns selected for identity verification, additional documentation review, or Earned Income Credit review take longer than the standard window. The Comptroller mails a notice if your return is held for additional review. Respond promptly to any notice to avoid further delay.

Processing Time Summary

Processing times reflect standard Maryland Comptroller guidance. Verify current times at marylandtaxes.gov.

Maryland’s County Income Tax: What It Is and Why It Matters

Maryland is unique among U.S. states: every county and Baltimore City imposes a local income tax on top of the state income tax. This county tax is not a property tax or sales tax. It is a separate percentage assessed on the same Maryland taxable income as the state tax. It ranges from approximately 2.25% to 3.30% depending on your county of residence as of December 31 of the tax year.

The county tax is administered by the Maryland Comptroller, not the county. You do not file a separate county income tax return. Both the state and county taxes are calculated, reported, and paid on your Maryland Form 502. Your employer withholds for both taxes simultaneously based on your county of residence on file. If your county changed during the year due to a move, the Comptroller prorates the county tax based on your year-end county of residence.

Representative County Tax Rates (TY 2025)

Selected counties shown. Dorchester 3.30% effective TY 2025 only (retroactive); Anne Arundel uses progressive brackets. Verified against Maryland Comptroller Tax Alert (revised Dec 22, 2025). Full rate table in Form 502 instructions at marylandtaxes.gov.

The practical effect is that the combined state-plus-county effective rate for most Maryland middle-income taxpayers is between approximately 7% and 9%, making Maryland one of the higher combined state-local income tax states in the country. This directly affects withholding amounts and the size of refunds or balances due.

Maryland Tax Characteristics That Affect Your Refund

• Progressive state income tax (2%–6.50% for TY 2025): Maryland uses a graduated rate structure. State rates begin at 2% on the first $1,000 and rise to 5.75% on income from $250,001 to $500,000 (single/HOH) or $300,001 to $600,000 (MFJ). The Maryland BRFA added two new high-income brackets for TY 2025: 6.25% on income from $500,001 to $1,000,000 (single/HOH) or $600,001 to $1,200,000 (MFJ), and 6.50% on income above $1,000,000 (single/HOH) or $1,200,000 (MFJ). Most middle-income Maryland residents pay at the 4.75% or 5% rate. Source: Maryland Comptroller Tax Alert, revised Dec 22, 2025. Verify the full rate table in the Form 502 instructions at marylandtaxes.gov.
• County income tax (2.25%–3.30% added to every return): Every Maryland resident owes county income tax. See the county rate table above. The county tax is withheld by your employer and reconciled on Form 502. Moving between counties mid-year, working in Maryland while living out-of-state, or having your employer withhold for the wrong county are common causes of refund discrepancies.
• OBBBA federal deductions do not apply on Maryland Form 502: Schedule 1-A deductions (tips §224, overtime §225, vehicle loan interest §163(h)(4)) flow to Form 1040 line 13b, which is below the AGI line. Maryland starts from federal AGI, not federal taxable income. These deductions reduce federal taxable income only. They do not carry through to Form 502. This is a mechanical result of Maryland's FAGI starting point. Source: IRS Schedule 1-A (Form 1040) 2025, Line 38.
• Maryland standard deduction (TY 2025 — increased by BRFA): The 2025 Maryland Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act changed the Maryland standard deduction to a flat $3,350 for Single, Married Filing Separately, or Dependent filers and $6,700 for Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, or Qualifying Surviving Spouse filers. The prior income-based phase-in was eliminated. Future increases are indexed to cost-of-living adjustments. Source: Maryland Comptroller Tax Alert, revised Dec 22, 2025. The Maryland standard deduction remains much smaller than the federal standard deduction.
• Personal exemption: Maryland allows a personal exemption of $3,200 per exemption claimed. Each qualifying dependent adds a $3,200 exemption. There is a reduced exemption for taxpayers with higher income (phase-out applies at higher income levels). Verify the exact TY 2025 amounts and phase-out thresholds in the Form 502 instructions.
• Maryland Earned Income Credit (MEITC): Maryland has its own state EITC in addition to the federal credit. Returns claiming the MEITC are reviewed for eligibility and may take longer to process. Maryland also has a local EITC for some counties. Both the state and local EITC are claimed on Form 502.
• Credit for taxes paid to another state: Maryland residents who earned income taxed by another state (e.g., a Maryland resident who works in Virginia, DC, or Pennsylvania) may claim a credit for taxes paid to that state on Form 502CR. Maryland has reciprocity agreements with DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania for wage income. Under reciprocity, you pay income tax only to your state of residence. Reciprocity reduces complexity significantly for the most common interstate commuting patterns.
• No local income tax return required: Despite the county income tax, no separate county return is filed. Everything is handled on Form 502. This distinguishes Maryland from states like Pennsylvania and Ohio where local earned income taxes require separate local filings.
• Refund offsets: The Maryland Comptroller participates in state debt collection programs. Refunds may be offset against outstanding Maryland tax liabilities, child support obligations, unemployment insurance overpayments, or other qualifying state debts. A notice is mailed explaining any offset and the remaining refund amount.

Common Maryland Refund Delay Reasons

• County tax withholding mismatch: If your employer withheld county tax at the rate for the wrong county (for example, at the Baltimore City rate when you live in Anne Arundel County), your withholding and liability will not match. This causes a discrepancy requiring reconciliation during processing. Verify your county of residence on your W-2.
• Income reporting mismatch: The Comptroller receives income data from Maryland employers, financial institutions, and the IRS. If the income on your Form 502 does not match that data, your return is held for reconciliation. Unreported interest, dividend income, or Maryland-source freelance income are common causes.
• Earned Income Credit review: Returns claiming the Maryland EITC are reviewed for eligibility. This review takes additional time beyond the standard processing window. If the Comptroller requires documentation to verify EIC eligibility, respond to the notice promptly.
• Identity verification hold: The Comptroller uses fraud prevention systems that can flag returns for identity verification. Processing stops until the verification is complete through the online portal or a mailed notice response. Do not file an amended return while a hold is active.
• Part-year residency errors (Form 505 vs. Form 502): Taxpayers who moved into or out of Maryland during 2025 sometimes file the wrong form. Full-year residents file Form 502. Nonresidents and part-year residents file Form 505. Filing the wrong form causes a processing delay while the Comptroller corrects or requests the right form.
• Reciprocity claim errors: Maryland residents who work in a reciprocity state (DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania) sometimes have Maryland income tax incorrectly withheld by their employer. If your employer withheld for Virginia instead of Maryland (because that is where the office is), you must claim a refund from Virginia and pay Maryland. Errors in applying reciprocity credits are a frequent source of delays and amended returns.
• Refund offset for state debts: Outstanding Maryland tax balances, child support, or other state debts reduce or eliminate your refund. A notice explains the offset. Review any outstanding Maryland obligations before filing to avoid surprises.

Maryland Filing Season Timing

Maryland Form 502 is due April 15, matching the federal deadline. Maryland grants an automatic 6-month extension to October 15, 2026 for calendar-year filers. The extension is automatic and requires no form if you owe no Maryland tax or have paid at least 90% of your final Maryland liability by April 15. If you owe a balance, file Maryland Form 502E (or pay online via bFile at marylandtaxes.gov) by April 15 to avoid the failure-to-pay penalty.

Maryland participates in the IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) combined federal/state program. All major tax software supports Maryland e-file. Maryland also has its own free iFile system for simple returns at interactive.marylandtaxes.gov. The Comptroller begins processing Maryland returns as federal acceptances are issued. Maryland state e-filing opens at the same time as federal e-filing each year.

Maryland residents who live near the DC border and work in Washington DC are Maryland residents for state income tax purposes. They pay Maryland income tax (state plus county) even though they work in DC. The Maryland-DC reciprocity agreement means Maryland residents working in DC do not owe DC income tax on wages. Verify reciprocity treatment and filing requirements at marylandtaxes.gov if you commute across state lines.

What To Do If Your Maryland Refund Is Delayed

1. Check the Maryland Comptroller refund tracker at interactive.marylandtaxes.gov/INDIV/refundstatus/home.aspx. You need your SSN, filing status, and the exact refund amount from Form 502. The automated refund status line at 1-800-638-2937 operates 24 hours a day. Wait at least 10 days after e-filing and at least 3 weeks after mailing a paper return before checking.
2. Allow the full processing window before contacting the Comptroller by phone. E-filed returns take approximately 3 weeks. Paper returns take 6 to 8 weeks. The Comptroller does not consider a return delayed until after these windows close. Calling earlier does not speed processing.
3. Confirm your county withholding is correct on Form 502. Maryland is the only state where every county and Baltimore City levies a local income tax (2.25% to 3.30%), collected on the same Form 502. If your employer withheld for the wrong county, or if you moved counties during the year, a mismatch triggers review. Verify the county code and local rate in the Form 502 instructions at marylandtaxes.gov before calling.
4. Check your mail for a notice from the Comptroller. If your return was selected for income verification, identity review, or a credit mismatch (including Earned Income Credit), the Comptroller mails a written notice with a case number. Respond promptly with the requested documentation. Keep the case number for follow-up calls.
5. Contact the Comptroller if the processing window has closed with no resolution. Call (410) 260-7701 or toll-free 1-800-638-2937, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Have your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. For DC, Virginia, or Pennsylvania reciprocity questions, confirm that state withholding was applied to the correct state before calling. For your federal refund, use the IRS tracker at irs.gov/refunds or see the Federal Refund Tracker.

Related Refund Resources

• Why Is My Tax Refund Delayed? — covers the most common federal and state delay reasons
• IRS “Still Being Processed”: What It Means — explains federal tracker status messages
• When to Call the IRS About Your Refund — IRS contact guidance and wait windows
• State Tax Refund Processing Times — compare timelines across all 50 states
• Federal Refund Tracker — IRS refund timelines and Where’s My Refund guide
• Virginia Refund Tracker — neighboring state tracker
• Pennsylvania Refund Tracker — neighboring state tracker
• New Jersey Refund Tracker — mid-Atlantic regional comparison
• New York Refund Tracker — northeast regional comparison
• No Tax on Overtime: Federal Rules Explained — OBBBA §225 federal deduction
• No Tax on Tips: Federal Rules Explained — OBBBA §224 federal deduction
• Refund Date Estimator — estimate your federal refund arrival date
• IRS Refund Approved But Not Sent — what to do when WMR shows approved but money has not arrived
• Refund Sent But Not Received — trace a missing direct deposit or paper check
• IRS Letter 5071C — identity verification letter: steps and timeline
• Tax Refund Offset Guide — why your refund was reduced and what to do
• Where's My Amended Return? — track Form 1040-X status separately from WMR
• IRS Refund Timeline — when to expect your refund after filing

Related State Refund Trackers

• Delaware Refund Tracker — Division of Revenue portal, e-file approximately 10–12 weeks; no reciprocal agreement with PA
• Virginia Refund Tracker — iFile portal, e-file 2–3 weeks direct deposit; reciprocity with MD
• Pennsylvania Refund Tracker — myPATH portal, e-file 4–6 weeks; reciprocity with MD
• New Jersey Refund Tracker — NJ Division of Taxation portal, e-file 4–6 weeks
• New York Refund Tracker — DTF portal, e-file approximately 3 weeks
• Massachusetts Refund Tracker — MassTaxConnect portal, e-file 6 weeks
• North Carolina Refund Tracker — NCDOR tracker, e-file 6–8 weeks
• Georgia Refund Tracker — GTC portal; HB 1000 bonus refund for TY2024 and TY2025
• Ohio Refund Tracker — Ohio Tax portal, e-file 5–7 business days
• Illinois Refund Tracker — MyTax Illinois portal, e-file 4–6 weeks
• California Refund Tracker — FTB tracker, e-file 2–3 weeks direct deposit
• Florida (No State Income Tax) — no state income tax; federal refund info only
• Texas (No State Income Tax) — no state income tax; federal refund info only
• All State Refund Trackers — compare processing timelines across all 50 states