Is IRS expecting to delay refunds again when we file in 2018?

[TaxGuyBill]

If you are referring to a tax return with the Earned Income Credit or the American Opportunity Credit, YES.  It isn't really a "delay", because the IRS is not ALLOWED to start issuing refunds until after February 15th.

[Critter]

Yes ... it is a delay to the taxpayer but it is really a mandate to the IRS. Rules were changed to reduce the fraud in the system ... so the effected taxpayers need to plan accordingly.

[Lauriethecook]

Ok good. I hope they're getting a handle on cheaters! I don't get EIC anymore but my children do for my grandbabies. So Feb.15 is when they'll start accepting forms? Thank you for answering

[Lauriethecook]

Thank you for that link DoninGA!

[TaxGuyBill]

The IRS accepts the forms earlier, so you should file as early as possible, in case of other delays or problems.  The refunds just can't be issued until February 15th (which means people usually won't get the refunds until the end of February) if the tax return has one of those two credits on it.

The IRS usually starts accepting tax returns in mid-to-late January.

[Lauriethecook]

Thank you TaxGuyBill. I personally got my refund about a week after I filed last year,but both my daughters took longer.

[SteamTrain]

With the Equifax hack having been done...there may be further delays implemented by the IRS.

They will certainly need to do something to prevent massive fraud this coming year...so no promises can be made.

[Lauriethecook]

Oh that's right SteamTrain-I forgot all about that breach! You are right...prob even more precautions this year!

[Critter]

Sadly the effects of that situation will be felt for years to come as the stolen info is usually stored for a couple of years and used after  the one year monitoring stops and the info isn't "hot" anymore.

[SteamTrain]

Those theft delays could change...with millions of people locking their credit files, the jerks may just start trying to use the info before the credit files get all locked up.

[Lauriethecook]

Gosh Critter2 that's gonna be bad news for the low-earners who get eic.

[Lauriethecook]

SteamTrain that's what happened to the early filers last year- theirs ended up taking longer than the people who waited to file. I told my daughters that (because I usually do all of ours early on TurboTax) we needed to wait. I filed as soon as IRS actually started accepting and we got ours back relatively quickly. Mine was fastest because I don't have eic anymore.

[Critter]

Well ... for all those who get those  refundable credits ( which is really a disguised  welfare program sewn into the income tax system) they will need to plan on not getting anything at any certain time then they will not be disappointed by the delay.  I know many people say they want "their" money but it is NOT "their" money until it is in their hands. IMHO ... the income tax system became corrupted by these large credits and it is about time that something is done about it and unfortunately it will hurt the innocent bystanders.

[SweetieJean]

Folks can always change their withholding so that they don't have wait until tax time for a refund.
Also be aware that Congress is considering tax law changes.