October was a scary month for taxpayers and it had nothing to do with Halloween. An internet hoax gave birth to a rumor that taxpayers would not see their 2014 refunds until October 2015.  The fake story spread quickly hitting major news outlets within a matter of days, which included Fox Business and Wall Street Journal.

One of the articles on the subject read, “The deadline to have your Federal taxed filed will remain April 15th, but under new directives issues to the IRS, no refunds are to issued before October 15, 2015. This means that early filers who normally receive their refunds around the beginning of February will have to wait an additional 7 months longer than normal to get the money back that’s owed to them.”

Past Frustrations Make the Story Believable

So what made the story so believable for taxpayers? Well, take a look at the past year. While statistically it was a smooth year for most taxpayers, a number of refunds were delayed for filers. With the delays came an overwhelming negative sentiment towards the IRS. Then again in 2013, the IRS announced delays for taxpayers who claimed educational credits. The result? For the past two years, taxpayers have seen substantial delays in their tax refunds.

What to Expect in 2015

While this news should be a relief to the taxpayer, it’s important to note that this year will come with its own complications. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen stated that this coming tax-filing season may be the most complicated that the Internal Revenue Service has ever seen. The imminent complications have arisen from a myriad of holdups. For instance, Congress has yet to reinstate dozens of tax provisions that expired at the beginning of 2014. In early October, Koskinen wrote a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden warning that “if it persists into December or later, could force the IRS to postpone the opening of the 2015 filing season and delay the processing of tax refunds for millions of taxpayers.”

Get Help When You Need It

Whether you’re a first-time tax filer or a seasoned taxpayer, this season proves to be one of the most challenging for all those looking to meet the deadline and make the most of their return. Don’t let discrepancies or errors on your tax return cost you your savings and your peace of mind. Contact our expert tax attorneys right away if you have any issues with the government after you’ve filed your taxes. We have an intricate understanding of the tax code and can help you with your tax debt. We can take quick action to correct federal tax debt and avoid the collection proceedings.