Many taxpayers plan their holiday shopping and other purchases on the fact they will get their tax refund from the IRS at the earliest possible date. In 2017, that may no longer be the case. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, signed into law December 2015, requires the IRS to hold tax refunds which include Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until Feb. 15, 2017. Also, new identity theft and refund fraud safeguards by both the IRS and individual states may mean some tax returns and refunds face additional review. The Where's My Refund? Tool on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go phone app remain the best ways to check on the status of a refund.
For more tips and guides to taxes for service members and veterans, visit the Military.com Tax section.
