As Granite State Taxpayers Experience Significant Tax Return Delays, Shaheen Presses Treasury, IRS For Answers

**Shaheen’s office has heard from nearly 100 Granite Staters about delayed tax returns**

**SHAHEEN: “With so many families experiencing unprecedented economic distress due to the impacts of COVID-19, the IRS must adhere to a reasonable timeframe for processing returns and sending refunds for tax year 2019”**

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) called on Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Charles Rettig, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to swiftly share more detailed information with taxpayers in New Hampshire and across the nation on the status of their tax returns and adhere to a reasonable timeframe to process returns and send refunds for tax year 2019.  Shaheen’s letter comes after her office has received nearly 100 complaints from Granite State taxpayers regarding delayed tax returns and a lack of timely status updates from the IRS.

As millions of families in New Hampshire and across the nation continue to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shaheen highlighted the significant difference receiving an income tax refund can make for those affected. “For those who are without a consistent source of income during the COVID-19 pandemic, this refund can serve as a critical lifeline as rent, bills and everyday costs pile up.”

Shaheen continued by urging the IRS to take concrete action to improve its services and better serve those who have filed their taxes in a timely manner but are still waiting on their returns. “Constituents attempting to track the status of their refunds continue to see that their returns are simply pending with no estimate of when to expect it…The agency must do more to process paper and electronic returns and share this information publicly.”

Shaheen also requested a timeframe for the issuing of filed tax refunds and the sharing of current processing times with taxpayers. She concluded, “Congress and this Administration must continue do everything possible to assist families during this time of economic hardship. To support this effort, I urge your agency to swiftly improve its service to American taxpayers in receiving the tax refunds to which they are entitled. Thank you for your urgent attention to this request.

To read Shaheen’s letter in full, click here.