Georgia 2017 tax refunds may be delayed

As we enter into tax season, it’s always important to stay aware of the risk of tax fraud. Remember, filing early is one of the best ways to avoid fraud, and it ensures you can get your return even quicker.

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) is also implementing some precautionary measures to reduce the amount of tax fraud. These precess changes may sigificantly delay refunds during the 2017 filing season.

The state won’t begin processing individual income returns until February 1, and it may take more than 90 days from the date of receipt for the DOR to issue a refund. If you’re a first-time filer in Georgia or have not filed in Georgia during the last five years, your refund will be issued as a paper check.

Businesses must also file their employee W-2 information a month earlier than usual — by January 31 instead of February 28. Those who file late may face penalties and will slow the processing of their employees’ returns.

If you would like to check the status of your return after you file, you can register with he DOR’s Georgia Tax Center. Once registered, you can opt for alerts that will notify you when a return has been filed with your Social Security Number.

With this in mind, be sure to meet with us as soon as possible to get your return filed. Feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or questions.