IRS Delaying Refunds For Early Filers

If you are one of the millions of taxpayers who filed early this year, the IRS has emailed tax professionals that they  may be delaying the release of refunds by about a week (or even more). 

“The [IRS] says some refunds will take longer to arrive because its ‘fine-tuning’ some of its systems.  The email says the agency is also conducting additional screening for fraud this year, which could also play a role in the delay”

Taxpayers didn’t expect these delays and are upset. Many intentionally file early in the season because they need that tax refund to pay bills. Families could experience more hardship than others even with only an extra few days of delay, he said. 

Though IRS officials would not say it directly, the crackdown delaying some refunds could involve a case from Detroit, where a suspected criminal ring was disrupted by federal officials.

Federal officials say that a group of metro Detroit tax preparers submitted at least 352 fake tax returns using names and Social Security numbers of the dead in an attempt to obtain more than $800,000 in refunds, according to court documents.

Two area tax preparers were arrested Friday for conspiracy to defraud the government by filing false tax returns and obtaining refunds, using the names and information of recently deceased individuals, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.

Based on communication we have received, the IRS is expecting normal processing to resume for tax returns filed on or after January 26th.  To check the status of your federal refund, click “Where My Refund”.  For all other States, CLICK HERE.

Source: ABC News & Detroit Free Press