IRS reminds taxpayers claiming EITC and ACTC refunds will be delayed

SAN DIEGO – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued a reminder to California taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) to plan on a refund delay until Feb.15.

A recent federal law change aimed at making it easier for the IRS to detect and prevent refund fraud, requires the IRS to hold the refund of any tax return claiming either the EITC or ACTC until Feb. 15. By law, the IRS must hold the entire refund not just the portion related to these credits.

“I want to remind folks that as we move into the holiday season, some refunds will be delayed next year so they should plan ahead,” said IRS spokesperson Matt Leas. “To avoid any further delays, it’s important that taxpayers file as they normally would and not wait until later in the filing season.”

As of June 2016, three million working individuals and families in California received $7.3 billion in EITC alone, putting an average of $2,409 into the pockets of low-income working individuals and families. Similarly, 2.3 million working individuals and families in the state received a total of $3.185 billion in ACTC, an average of $1,375 per individuals and families.

The IRS emphasizes that these are full-year totals for both of these credits and that only those claims filed before Feb. 15 will be affected by the new law.

To avoid any further delays on their refunds, the IRS asks California taxpayers to file their returns as they normally do, not wait to file later in the season. Whether or not claiming the EITC or ACTC, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to count on getting a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying other financial obligations.

The IRS issues more than nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days, some returns however, are held for further review. Because the entire tax refund and not only the credit portion will be held until Feb. 15, the IRS encourages taxpayers to file a complete and accurate return the first time which will likely result in a faster refund. Amended returns take up to 16 weeks to process.

The IRS also encourages taxpayers to consider a tax-withholding checkup. By adjusting Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, taxpayers can ensure the right amount is taken out of their pay so that they will not have to pay too much tax or wait until they file their return to get a refund.

Taxpayers should submit the revised form to employers, and employers will use the form to figure the amount of federal income tax to be withheld from pay. For help, use the withholding calculator on www.IRS.gov.

The IRS has a special page on www.IRS.gov with steps to take now for the 2017 tax filing season.