Why am I being told my state refund can't be processed yet?

Few--if any--state programs and state forms are ready yet.   

Click Review to see what forms you are waiting for.

Many federal and state forms are not yet available.  Check here for form availability. The dates are subject to change.

Tax form availability tool,

AND.....The state tax return is not sent to the state Yet.

The state tax return is sent only AFTER the IRS accepts the Federal file.   And the IRS isn't accepting any Federal files until the week of 29 January.  (a very few exceptions for test files pulled the week before).

This is to prevent filing a state tax return with errors on it, or even identity problems that the stronger IRS security measures might detect first.

IF the IRS rejects the Federal filing, your State filing is not sent....because the correction needed for Federal file could also affect the State file.