Do you itemize? If so, you might be subject to the IRS tax filing delay this year.
With the passing of the Social Security tax break, deductions for state and local sales taxes, an AMT patch, and deductions for college tuition and teacher expenses so late in the year (December 17th, 2010), the IRS has been quite busy.
Tax Delay 2010
The IRS is so busy in fact, that they are expecting delays in processing filed 2010 tax returns as well as a refund delay for those who are eligible in 2011.
You can use the Where’s My Refund? tracker to check the status of your tax refund.
Who the IRS Tax Delay Applies To
The income tax delay will apply to both paper and electronic filers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A.
When Can You File Your Tax Return?
The IRS cannot begin to process tax forms until mid-February, and suggest that you do not send your forms in until they are ready to receive them (they have not given out a date yet). We’ll let you know when the delay tax filing date is published.
So if you itemize your taxes, this year it is best to be later rather than to file early on in the tax season, with the tax refund delay.
Tax Refund Direct Deposit versus Mail
If you want to get your refund faster, opt for the direct deposit route. Not only will the IRS send your money a week earlier via direct deposit, but you’ll cut down on the mailing time too.
IRS Tax Refund Schedule
Here is the 2011 IRS refund schedule for both direct deposit and mailed refunds. The IRS doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive your refund by a certain date, but the schedule they publish does give some guidance.
IRS Tax Delay in Refund
There is a 2010 tax filing delay because the Obama Tax Deal was passed so late last year. The IRS refund cycle chart specifies that these dates are based on “normal processing.” It does not provide dates for the IRS refund delay.
2011 Tax Refund Schedule
| Transmitted and accepted (by 11 am) between: |
Direct Deposit Sent |
Paper Check Mailed |
| Jan 14 and Jan 20, 2011 | Jan 28, 2011 | Feb 4, 2011 |
| Jan 20 and Jan 27, 2011 | Feb 4, 2011 | Feb 11, 2011 |
| Jan 27 and Feb 3, 2011 | Feb 11, 2011 | Feb 18, 2011 |
| Feb 3 and Feb 10, 2011 | Feb 18, 2011 | Feb 25, 2011 |
| Feb 10 and Feb 17, 2011 | Feb 25, 2011 | Mar 4, 2011 |
| Feb 17 and Feb 24, 2011 | Mar 4, 2011 | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Feb 24 and Mar 3, 2011 | Mar 11, 2011 | Mar 18, 2011 |
| Mar 3 and Mar 10, 2011 | Mar 18, 2011 | Mar 25, 2011 |
| Mar 10 and Mar 17, 2011 | Mar 25, 2011 | Apr 1, 2011 |
| Mar 17 and Mar 24, 2011 | Apr 1, 2011 | Apr 8, 2011 |
| Mar 24 and Mar 31, 2011 | Apr 8, 2011 | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Mar 31 and Apr 7, 2011 | Apr 15, 2011 | Apr 22, 2011 |
| Apr 7 and Apr 14, 2011 | Apr 22, 2011 | Apr 29, 2011 |
| Apr 14 and Apr 21, 2011 | Apr 29, 2011 | May 6, 2011 |
| Apr 21 and Apr 28, 2011 | May 6, 2011 | May 13, 2011 |
| Apr 28 and May 5, 2011 | May 13, 2011 | May 20, 2011 |
| May 5 and May 12, 2011 | May 20, 2011 | May 27, 2011 |
| May 12 and May 19, 2011 | May 27, 2011 | May 27, 2011 |
| May 20 and May 26, 2011 | Jun 3, 2011 | Jun 10, 2011 |
| May 26 and Jun 2, 2011 | Jun 10, 2011 | Jun 17, 2011 |
| Jun 2 and Jun 9, 2011 | Jun 17, 2011 | Jun 24, 2011 |
| Jun 9 and Jun 16, 2011 | Jun 24, 2011 | Jul 1, 2011 |
| Jun 16 and Jun 23, 2011 | Jul 1, 2011 | Jul 8, 2011 |
| Jun 23 and Jun 30, 2011 | Jul 8, 2011 | Jul 15, 2011 |
| Jun 30 and Jul 7, 2011 | Jul 15, 2011 | Jul 22, 2011 |
| Jul 7 and Jul 14, 2011 | Jul 22, 2011 | Jul 29, 2011 |
| Jul 14 and Jul 21, 2011 | Jul 29, 2011 | Aug 5, 2011 |
| Jul 21 and Jul 28, 2011 | Aug 5, 2011 | Aug 12, 2011 |
| Jul 28 and Aug 4, 2011 | Aug 12, 2011 | Aug 19, 2011 |
| Aug 4 and Aug 11, 2011 | Aug 19, 2011 | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Aug 11 and Aug 18, 2011 | Aug 26, 2011 | Sep 2, 2011 |
| Aug 18 and Aug 25, 2011 | Sep 2, 2011 | Sep 9, 2011 |
| Aug 25 and Sep 1, 2011 | Sep 10, 2011 | Sep 16, 2011 |
| Sep 1 and Sep 8, 2011 | Sep 16, 2011 | Sep 23, 2011 |
| Sep 8 and Sep 15, 2011 | Sep 23, 2011 | Sep 30, 2011 |
| Sep 15 and Sep 22, 2011 | Sep 30, 2011 | Oct 7, 2011 |
| Sep 22 and Sep 29, 2011 | Oct 7, 2011 | Oct 14, 2011 |
| Sep 29 and Oct 6, 2011 | Oct 14, 2011 | Oct 21, 2011 |
| Oct 6 and Oct 13, 2011 | Oct 21, 2011 | Oct 28, 2011 |
| Oct 13 and Oct 20, 2011 | Oct 28, 2011 | Nov 4, 2011 |
