KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: IRS Says Expect Refund Delay

Most tax payers who file their return early do so because they're expecting a refund.

What they weren't expecting was a refund delay.    

Many early filers not only expect a refund…they need that refund.

So they were quick to call Seven-On-Your-Side looking for an explanation.

A single mom in Stuttgart was the first to notify us about this problem.

It is a problem affecting taxpayers statewide and nationwide.

Like many Arkansans, Shelley Reitz is trusting the professionals with her taxes…in her case H & R Block.

She filed on January 11th and was told her refund should be in on the 25th.

"When that didn't happen I called the office and was told that they had been sent an email that there was a delay but they wouldn't tell me why and they couldn't give me a new date," says Reitz.

We called H & R Block and were told the problem is an IRS issue and it is affecting not only eight out of every 10 H & R Block filers but the majority of early filers…no matter who they filed with or how they filed.

The IRS, in a statement to KATV, says that "…some taxpayers will receive refunds approximately one week later than initial projections they may have received."

"The one-week delay for some refunds relates to fine-tuning IRS systems to adjust for new safeguards put in place this tax season to provide stronger protection against refund fraud."

"The IRS apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the revised refund dates."

"They cannot give me a new date," says Reitz.  "They told me to just keep trying my card.  They've given me a web site and a 1-800 number.  None of it has been helpful."

Reitz says she is a single mom of a 10 year-old and a 13 year-old and filed early so they could do some extra things and buy some extra things. She knows her refund will eventually arrive…she just wishes she knew when.

A tax preparer may say a refund is two weeks away but the IRS says 90 percent of filers will get their refund within three weeks.

By that standard, Ms. Reitz's refund won't be officially late until next week.

Air date:  January 27^th, 2012