Theresa Arndt, CPA

People who waited until Wednesday’s deadline to file their tax returns may have found that someone hijacked their refund.  That’s what happened to several of my clients this year.  Here are a couple of their stories: One client arrived home to find a letter from the IRS that they were conducting a review of questionable income amounts and claims for credits listed on his return.  His conversation went like many thousands before... Client: " What return?  I haven't even filed yet. "  IRS: " Ummm…yes you have ".  Well my client was right of course; he hadn't filed his return...but someone else had filed it for him. Other clients discovered the identity theft when I attempted to electronically file the return.  The IRS will not accept a return that has already been filed. Naturally, the first question they ask me is:  " How can this happen? "  That's a good question and one I myself wanted to know the answer too. Th...

So you’re getting a tax refund and now you want to know when to expect it.     The good news is that the IRS wants you to know as well.   There are three fast and easy ways to track the status of your refund. Go Online The IRS created “ Where’s My Refund?,” a digital tool designed to answer taxpayer questions about the status of their refund.   This year the IRS has refreshed, enhanced and polished the app just in time for the 2013 tax season, making it more automated and accurate than ever before. With “Where’s My Refund", a new progressive feature called a “refund tracker” displays the return progress in three separate stages.   Here are the three stages and the messages you may receive: 1. Return Received ·           We have received your tax return and it is being processed. ·           You should get your refund within 21 days from ...