Tax Season Kicks Off, but Refund Expectations May Be Lower This Year
As the tax season officially begins on Monday, January 26, Americans are eagerly awaiting their refunds. However, experts warn that this year's filing season may be marred by customer service issues and delays in processing refunds.
According to the IRS, taxpayers who file electronically can expect their refunds in under 21 days, but those who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) may face a longer wait. The agency has announced that it will start phasing out paper refund checks late last year, and most taxpayers must provide their bank routing and account numbers to receive their refund through direct deposit.
Those who claim the EITC and ACTC won't get their refunds until March 2 at the earliest, as the IRS is required to hold these returns longer to scan for fraud or misapplied tax credits. Meanwhile, paper return filers will need to wait about four weeks for their status to show up in the "Where's My Refund" app.
The IRS has also cautioned taxpayers that they may face unanswered phone calls and delays in refunds due to employee cuts at the agency last year and fallout from the federal shutdown.
Despite these potential issues, tax experts predict that this year's tax refunds could be even larger than usual. The typical check is set to increase by an additional $1,000, with some taxpayers potentially receiving bigger checks due to new tax laws.
To track your refund, filers can use the IRS's "Where's My Refund" tool, which typically provides information about 24 hours after an electronic filing. However, those who file paper returns will need to wait longer for their status to show up in the app.
With tax season underway, it's essential for taxpayers to be prepared for potential delays and customer service issues. By understanding the refund process and taking steps to ensure a smooth filing experience, Americans can minimize their stress and maximize their refunds this year.
As the tax season officially begins on Monday, January 26, Americans are eagerly awaiting their refunds. However, experts warn that this year's filing season may be marred by customer service issues and delays in processing refunds.
According to the IRS, taxpayers who file electronically can expect their refunds in under 21 days, but those who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) may face a longer wait. The agency has announced that it will start phasing out paper refund checks late last year, and most taxpayers must provide their bank routing and account numbers to receive their refund through direct deposit.
Those who claim the EITC and ACTC won't get their refunds until March 2 at the earliest, as the IRS is required to hold these returns longer to scan for fraud or misapplied tax credits. Meanwhile, paper return filers will need to wait about four weeks for their status to show up in the "Where's My Refund" app.
The IRS has also cautioned taxpayers that they may face unanswered phone calls and delays in refunds due to employee cuts at the agency last year and fallout from the federal shutdown.
Despite these potential issues, tax experts predict that this year's tax refunds could be even larger than usual. The typical check is set to increase by an additional $1,000, with some taxpayers potentially receiving bigger checks due to new tax laws.
To track your refund, filers can use the IRS's "Where's My Refund" tool, which typically provides information about 24 hours after an electronic filing. However, those who file paper returns will need to wait longer for their status to show up in the app.
With tax season underway, it's essential for taxpayers to be prepared for potential delays and customer service issues. By understanding the refund process and taking steps to ensure a smooth filing experience, Americans can minimize their stress and maximize their refunds this year.
Refund day is always a bummer... think we'll have to wait longer than 21 days for our cash back 
. Anyone else tired of the hassle? 
Refunds are like the old iPhone - they're still reliable but now you gotta jump through hoops to get 'em 
And what's with the extra wait time for EITC/ACTC? 
Still, hopefully it'll all be worth it in the end 
. The fact that those claiming EITC & ACTC are likely to face delays until March 2 is concerning, especially for low-income families who depend on timely refunds 
. But on the bright side, who doesn't love a bigger check at the end of it? 
. And can they pls just streamline that "Where's My Refund" tool so it gives us more accurate updates? 
... I mean, it's like we're all just trying to get our money back without any issues, right? 
...
sounds like another stressful tax season ahead. I'm not sure about these "experts" saying we'll get larger refunds this year tho 
. they keep talking about these 'customer service issues' and 'employee cuts', which just makes me wanna roll my eyes... isn't this what they're paid for? anywayz, at least the checks are gettin bigger and that's def a bonus 
. so yeah, i guess it's always good to be prepared for some delays and stuff... but like, who am i kidding? we all just wanna get our refunds and move on with our lives 
The agency's recent decision to phase out paper refund checks and require bank routing numbers for direct deposit may cause some inconvenience for taxpayers who prefer this option. Moreover, the prolonged hold on EITC and ACTC refunds raises concerns about potential delays and stress for those relying on these tax credits.
.
. And don't even get me started on the fact that the IRS is phasing out paper checks and making us provide our bank info to get our refunds directly 
. I mean, what if I forget to add that info?! It's just too much to handle, you know?