Thanks to a new service from the N.C. Department of Revenue, taxpayers can check the status of their individual income tax refunds quickly and easily 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Taxpayers can now visit the department’s Web site at www.dornc.com and click the button marked “Where’s My Refund” to find the latest information on the status of their refund.

The new service requires taxpayers to enter the first Social Security number shown on their state tax return (form D-400) and the exact amount of refund shown on the state return (form D-400, line 28).

The system also provides information about amended returns or a return from a previous year that was filed late. The refund information is updated daily. (Taxpayers should wait at least 24 hours before inquiring again.)

There’s still time for last-minute filers to make the task easier. Electronic filing is the fastest, easiest way to file taxes. Through the Federal/State Electronic Filing program, the department joins the Internal Revenue Service to provide an alternative to filing paper tax returns.

Taxpayers can file their state and federal individual income tax returns together or file the state return by itself.

In the 12 years North Carolina has participated in the program, the state has consistently ranked near the top nationally in the number of individual income tax returns filed electronically. Last year in North Carolina, more than 1.5 million individual income tax returns were filed electronically and over 8 million have been filed since the program began.

Taxpayers who have personal computers and modems can use tax preparation software that has been approved by the department to file their federal and state returns electronically. They can also use an on-line service.

For taxpayers who don’t have personal computers, many tax professionals will file federal and state returns electronically for a fee — even if taxpayers prepare their own returns. The department’s Web site lists the tax professionals who offer electronic filing.