SOUTH ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Many Missourians are asking the question, "Where's my refund?" Missouri state budget officials tell Fox 2 the state owes an estimated $347,000,000 in state tax refunds. And if you haven't received yours yet, it could be a while.
Officials with the Office of Administration in Jefferson City say it could take until the end of June for everybody to get their Missouri state tax refund. The problem basically boils down to cash flow. Authorities say revenues collected from two main sources- sales taxes and individual income taxes are both down. Tt means there's not as much money to pay out for refunds.
In another cost cutting measure, the Department of Revenue only hired about half the temporaries they usually do to sort through returns. ast minute filers will have to wait the longest.
Figures show refunds given out were down more than 33% this past April versus April of last year.
Officials with H & R Block say they have been seeing delays with e-filers and mail filers. H & R Block St. Louis District Manager, Arnita Jones, said, "We're seeing a delay across the board. There's no specific area that's being singled out if you will. We've seen it with both."
Ted Farnen with the Missouri Department of Revenue said, "We only have so much money to work with for refunds. And just like any family, we have a budget that we have to live with. And if the money isn't there, then we can't use the money for refunds."
Farnen says the average wait for e-filers is a week and a half. For mail filers, it's a month and a half. But your wait time could vary. There does not seem to be a delay in Federal or Illinois refunds.
Missouri state officials emphasize that everyone will get their refunds, but it's going to take a while.
Jones' message Missourians still waiting for their refund: "The only thing they really need to do is just be patient. Normally, it would take a very short amount of time but now it's taking four to six weeks."
Officials with the Office of Administration in Jefferson City say it could take until the end of June for everybody to get their Missouri state tax refund. The problem basically boils down to cash flow. Authorities say revenues collected from two main sources- sales taxes and individual income taxes are both down. Tt means there's not as much money to pay out for refunds.
In another cost cutting measure, the Department of Revenue only hired about half the temporaries they usually do to sort through returns. ast minute filers will have to wait the longest.
Figures show refunds given out were down more than 33% this past April versus April of last year.
Officials with H & R Block say they have been seeing delays with e-filers and mail filers. H & R Block St. Louis District Manager, Arnita Jones, said, "We're seeing a delay across the board. There's no specific area that's being singled out if you will. We've seen it with both."
Ted Farnen with the Missouri Department of Revenue said, "We only have so much money to work with for refunds. And just like any family, we have a budget that we have to live with. And if the money isn't there, then we can't use the money for refunds."
Farnen says the average wait for e-filers is a week and a half. For mail filers, it's a month and a half. But your wait time could vary. There does not seem to be a delay in Federal or Illinois refunds.
Missouri state officials emphasize that everyone will get their refunds, but it's going to take a while.
Jones' message Missourians still waiting for their refund: "The only thing they really need to do is just be patient. Normally, it would take a very short amount of time but now it's taking four to six weeks."
