There’s a tax return season on us, and some people worry that it might take some time to get a refund, as President Trump says he’s going to make. A major cut Go to the IRS during busy times.
Tax experts say these concerns are valid and it is more important than ever to file earlier this year, especially as Americans may encounter delays in tax refunds as they approach the filing deadline. I say that. The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting tax returns on January 27th and will continue until April 15th unless taxpayers request an extension.
Trump is It is expected to fire over 6,000 By the end of this week, IRS employees have doubled their efforts to reduce the size of their federal workforce.
Terrance Hutchins, a tax accountant at Logos Financial Group, said taxpayers should expect longer hold times on phones and generally slow customer service. He still spends refunds on relatively simple returns submitted early and electronically to display in a timely manner.
However, many taxpayers may experience processing delays as a result of the expected reductions.
“If you receive it in a direct deposit, the refund can be very fast, but these promises were a few weeks ago, and the agency knew the cut so it’s very much to say what the impact is. It’s difficult,” Vanessa Williams, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, told CBS MoneyWatch.
Does the IRS reduction affect how long it takes to get a refund?
Tax accountants say the advice that always submit returns to taxpayers in light of expected workforce cuts is even more important this year. If IRS staffing is reduced, tax return errors will take some time to correct.
If taxpayers submit files near deadlines or make mistakes in returns, Hutchins hopes a decline in the workforce at the agency will result in a delay in refunds.
Williams of the Tax Policy Center said filers who need assistance should expect slow refunds as a result of long wait times and worse customer service. “You spend a lot of your time on hold and you have real consequences,” she said.
A Democrat senator warned in a letter to the Trump administration on Tuesday that potential staff cuts could delay tax refunds for Americans in 2025.
“IRS staffing due to Trump’s employment freeze and potential layoffs is likely to undermine tax refunds, taxpayer harm and law enforcement efforts,” the senator wrote. It is essential to support Americans throughout the tax season to the institutions responsible for processing refunds, to “answer questions, process returns, send refunds, and keep the IRS system online and functional.”
“We always advise hackers to pay taxes as soon as possible because they can obtain a Social Security number and file false tax returns,” Texas-based financial advisor Katie Brewer told CBS Money Watch. Ta. Brewer also expects the cuts to lead to longer waits for tax-related questions answered over the phone. We expect this to be particularly burdensome for older filers who are not tech-savvy and may not be inclined to rely on the IRS website for advice. Added.
When will I receive a tax refund?
According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 calendar days if you file your taxes electronically. It may take some time to get a refund for a paper return.
Once taxpayers submit it electronically, they can view the status of their 2025 refunds using the IRS. tool.
Returns that require revisions or additional reviews may result in delayed refunds, the IRS points out. Therefore, Brewer says it is special to ensure that returns are error-free.
“People don’t double check things up until they hit a send. But I really recommend you not to confuse numbers or accidentally add zeros. IRS to fix it,” Brewer said.
Who is hoping for a timely refund?
Millions of Americans expect to receive timely refunds, so they can pay off their debts, spend money on savings, and make large purchases.
“These are often essential support for Americans, especially for working families who receive a child tax credit or an income tax credit they earn,” Williams said. “Low-income people use tax refunds to pay back winter heating costs or throw away their money to cover their spring clothes for their kids.”
She added that working-class Americans rely on tax credits for financial stability. “That’s the purpose: to give people stability when they’re working and have kids,” she said. “It’s not $20 to be excited about receiving it as a gift or surprise. It’s real money to take on the financial security of so many Americans.”
Last year, the IRS piloted a new free electronic service called Direct File, which provides public tax preparation services. Currently available to 30 million Americans in 25 states, and extract personal tax returns information directly from the IRS. According to Williams, using such services is one way to increase your chances of receiving a timely refund.
Why haven’t I received a tax refund yet?
IRS ‘Where is my refund? According to the agency’s website, the tool tells the e-filer whether the 2025 tax refund status is 24 hours after filing the return. Those submitting by mail can view the status of the refund four weeks after the return.
To use the tool, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number or the exact amount of their refunds rounded to their ITIN, filing status, and the nearest total.
