Where’s my tax refund and why didn’t it get here already?
That’s what some New York State taxpayers are asking these days.
They filed their returns early and electronically because they wanted refunds as fast as they can get them. Within a few days or a week the federal government usually deposits the refund check in the bank. A month later, maybe two, the taxpayers still haven’t heard a word from Albany.
Why are some people still waiting for their state tax refund?
“The standard on refunds is four to eight weeks,” according to Brad Maione, a spokesman for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Critics say the state must do better or explain why it isn’t.
“Four to eight weeks is a lousy standard. It should be no more than four weeks,” says E.J. McMahon, a senior fellow for tax and budgetary studies at the Manhattan Institute.
“That’s just too long,” agrees Kail Padgitt, a staff economist with the Tax Foundation in Washington, DC.
Several Albany lawmakers believe that the four- to eight-week-standard is unacceptable. They also say it’s unfair.
“It’s your money. It belongs to you, not New York State. And you should get it sooner than four to eight weeks,” says Scott Reif, a spokesman for state Senate Majority leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
Skelos is backing legislation offered by a Long Island Republican — Sen. Carl Marcellino (Oyster Bay) — and a Brooklyn Democrat Assemblywoman — Inez Barron — that would require that refunds reach the taxpayer within a month.