Tax Year Prior to 2020: It says refunds won't be processed until Feb 15th (or around the 15th) if i have Earned Income credit or Additional Child Credit; is this true with RPF or card payment?

[xmasbaby0]

From the IRS:
“The IRS reminds taxpayers that, by law, the IRS cannot issue refunds claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. While the IRS will process those returns when received, it cannot issue related refunds before mid-February. The IRS expects the earliest EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards starting on Feb. 27, 2018, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return. “

[qweet01]

I don't understand either. Why I have to wait so long I've been with my job for 15 years and claim my son all the time. This don't make no sense.....

[andinheather]

This is necessary because of rampant fraud and identity theft. People who receive the EIC and Child Tax Credit are often targeted b gf schemers who will file fraudulent returns using someone else's SS#.
It's terrible and a lot of times the victim doesn't even know about this until they file their legitimate return and it's flagged as a duplicate. It takes months and sometimes years to resolve. And the majority of people claiming an EIC and Child Tax Credit are already greatly dependant on that money and then this fraud creates an enormous hardship.
So really the IRS isn't just trying to inconvenience you, they're trying to ensure you're not the victim of thieves. Two weeks isn't really going to ruin your life, but identity theft will.

[qweet01]

@andinheather I get that,  I'm just saying it for myself, due to the fact that I'm in the hospital as we speak right now with my son who is 10 years old with Sickle Cell Disease and has suffered a stroke as well.  This ain't got nothing to do with being upset because I gotta wait. I'm just depending on it because I miss work and don't get paid, and hoping it just comes soon. Especially to those who need it. I also work for loss prevention so I know.....

[SweetieJean]

The comments above about fraud are spot on. Some folks "misstate" their income, and then it doesn't match when the IRS receives the W-2. The delay is partly due to the time required to match the W-2 forms against the tax returns. Consider changing your withholding so that you do not have to wait for a refund at tax time.

[qweet01]

@SweetieJean understandable but what i dont like is someone that doesnt even know me to say that waiting two weeks ain't going to ruin my life. I get it! I understand how stupid people can be. I deal with the public everyday, in which people do Money Laundering all the time. Which is good to know that they check for that. But the only reason I made a comment because I'm going through something in which I was lashing out, just to get an answer about it, based on what I'm going through. But thank you

[lewispat221]

Are they still approving them before the 15 of February or they are waiting until after the 15 BC I filed on January 31 and it still says return received.

[laneydos]

Is this something new? I don't have EIC but I have 2 kids. I've never seen this.

[reereej39]

So how are some people getting their taxes back and filing eic since the irs saying it cant happen dont seem true to me

[erikhernandez03]

well that escalated quickly.

[blakkat25]

Eic doesn't apply to me so is it still Feb 15th?

[andinheather]

@qweet01 I'm sorry for your troubles. But I think your confused by my GENERAL comment that was meant to explain in GENERAL why the IRS implements this waiting period. Don't take it personal as I didn't type up my answer with you or your situation in mind. I don't know you.
And the IRS processes millions of returns so they don't have time to personalize each person's wait time with their personal issues in mind.
I'm sure hundreds of thousands are in dire need, myself included. By I'd much rather wait than chance it. So I hope you can get your refund asap, just like everyone else.

[andinheather]

Haha, yeah don't pay taxes because you have to wait for your refund, that's brilliant. Do you know how federal income taxes work?

[andinheather]

@blakkat25, no kidding lol! I don't know why this woman believes I was referring to her personal situation. I didn't call her out by name. I thought I was answering the question from the forum. But some people have zero concept of context. All in all I'm pretty amused by the absurdity.

[bcole209]

Is that only for the federal return? Because I received my state return within a week of filing. I have the EIC credit and claim my daughter so it says the federal return won’t be released until the 15th