Posted on 07/03/2009 11:08:21 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
ATLANTA (AP) - Colin Daymude was out of work last year after his business failed and eagerly filed his taxes in mid-January, figuring he'd get his refund sooner. He was wrong.
It took the 44-year-old entrepreneur more than six months to get his $1,300 check—money that he needed to pay living expenses while he worked a few side gigs.
Tax day—April 15—has long since come and gone, but sharp budget cuts and falling revenues have forced many states to delay income tax returns for months—and left taxpayers longing for their money.
"I'm just trying to get my money back," said a frustrated Daymude. "It's my money anyways."
Some states say plummeting tax collections drove them to hold on to the money so they can make ends meet. Others complain of not being able to keep up because the economic downturn has forced staffing cuts in revenue departments.
But critics worry governments are withholding funds that rightly belong to taxpayers when they need the extra cash the most. And some of the tardy states are fast approaching a stiff deadline of their own: The longer they wait, the more likely they'll have to pony up interest from thinning state coffers.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
But, but I hear people are buying houses... and feeling happy...
Someone needs to take one of these states to court.
This isn’t State money being withheld. It is the individual’s money being withheld.
Paying back tax refunds — returning people’s money to them — should be the highest on the list, even before public safety.
But if YOU owe Uncle Sam a dime, he’ll hunt you down like a dog and ruin your life!
Now the states are stealing YOUR MONEY because they cannot stop their runaway liberal spending habits. Taxifornia - leader of the pack. You can fight back. Reduce your withholding tax as much as you can. Always owe them a little money at the end of the year — that will prevent this unauthorized theft. Oh, and how much interest are they going to pay YOU FOR USING YOUR MONEY???
“It took the 44-year-old entrepreneur more than six months to get his $1,300 check”
It has not been six months yet...
“It took the 44-year-old entrepreneur more than six months to get his $1,300 check”
It has not been six months yet...
Maybe I missed he filed early.
I’m waiting on mine from Ga., also. If you call, they will refer you to their website which says they are experiencing up a 26 week delay in processing returns this year.
I really don’t mind waiting, but it would be a lot more professional and would go a long way in getting the public in a more favorable mood, if they would simply send a letter to those who have a refund coming and explain what they’re doing. Everyone was kept in the dark, unless they complained.
Right after April 15, they let a lot of people go, from what I hear. Also, they have been really slow in cashing checks that people have sent in.
But, hey, we’ve got a really nice fish pond!
That’s why it’s best to owe money up to the penalty point.
Why people think a refund is a gift from the government is beyond me.
Certain banks, e.g., BoA & Wells Fargo, are honoring CA IOUs? Hear that on Fox yesterday. Related:
I got a bill for $35 dollars from the State... apparently I owed them that much after I sent the check and they made adjustments. Having that envelope sent and the time spent by the state worker licking the stamp was way more than the $35 dollars I owed them, but Uncle Sam never forgets a penny owed to him.
SB a . instead of ?
Good advice - I'm soooo thankful I live in a state without a state income tax.
The guy actually claimed he was trying to get HIS money back? HIS MONEY?? Well there’s his first mistake.
I think these states are shooting themselves in the foot. People who overwithheld so they’d get a “bonus” the following year are going to think twice if they believe the next check will be delayed. So . . . they figure “a bird in the hand” and lower their withholding - and the state is further strapped for current income.
I’m in TN, with no income tax for regular income. My wife works in MS, so she pays in. A few years ago, before the current governor, they took till Oct to send us the refund.
If you’re working, there’s an easy way to fight back...claim exemption from withholding until you get your check. If they’re not going to refund last year’s overpayment, don’t let ‘em have this year’s day-to-day operating funds. These people have to learn to tighten their belts, just like everyone in the private sector has been doing.
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