In 2017, income tax refunds may take longer to reach some taxpayers than in previous years. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, signed into law in December 2015, requires the IRS to hold tax refunds for people claiming Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit until at least Feb. 15, 2017. Also, new identity theft and refund fraud safeguards by both the IRS and individual states mean some tax returns and refunds may face additional review. After Feb. 15, most refunds will be issued within the normal timeframe: less than 21 days after being accepted for processing by the IRS. The "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go phone app remain the best ways to check the status of a refund.
For more tax season guides and tips, visit the Military.com Tax section.
