GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) -
(03/13/13) - Filing errors are being blamed for the delay of up to 600,000 tax returns.
H&R Block says changes in the way returns are processed by the IRS created the problem. They say those who filed electronically between Feb.14 -22 were affected.
"After that period, I've been kind of just waiting and I still have not received a letter from the IRS and until this morning, I didn't even find out that there was even an issue," said James Bowers.
Bowers has been watching and waiting for his tax return since he filed online through H&R Block on Feb. 14. He says the IRS told him that it would take about 21 days to receive a refund.
"Called the IRS on the twenty-first day exactly, said what's going on, they told me I had to call back that it didn't show up in their software until the 22 day. Called back on the twenty-second day and all they could tell me was there was a problem with the education credit, that they would be sending me a letter within the next day or so in the mail," he said.
The affected returns included certain education tax credits claimed on tax form 8863.
H&R Block now says it could take anywhere from four to six additional weeks before those refunds come through.
Bowers says he was counting on his to help take care of some bills.
"There's a lot of things that we had planned and anticipated on doing and every one of those has been held up since. We have a car repair we have to do, because it's a major repair, it's not something we could just fork out hundreds of dollars for, right now we're down to one car because of it," he said.
H&R Block says it is communicating with clients about the problem.
Those who have received a letter from the IRS and haven't responded are advised to contact their local H&R Block office. You can also call 800-HRBLOCK.
