TAX NEWS - June 2010

Tax Q&A: Is there a way to get my state tax refund back sooner than later?

Tax Question: Is there a way to get my state tax refund back sooner than later? Whom do I need to contact? When is the state expecting to refund taxpayers?


Answer: You'll have to wait until July.

In May Gov. Linda Lingle announced that the Department of Taxation would be sending out refunds to tax filers who had their returns processed in January and February.

She said those refunds could be issued earlier than the announced delayed refund date of July because tax revenue collections had proven better than expected.

About $124 million has been refunded to 206,000 taxpayers, Tax Director Stanley Shiraki told Kokua Line.

However, the remaining 260,000 taxpayers -- due a total of $170 million in refunds -- will have to wait until July to begin receiving them, he said.

When Lingle announced the May refunds, she said tax officials would continue to assess the state's cash flow to determine whether additional refunds could be processed before the July 20 deadline.

July 20 is the end of the legally allowed 90-day refund period.

Shiraki said his department will begin processing refunds again on July 1, with that process expected to take about two weeks.

Officials are asking taxpayers not to call the department about the status of refunds, saying it would only further delay the process.