We have heard from a few GOAL donors whose 2015 Georgia income tax refunds are not being provided as quickly as they had expected. Please read below for information on this topic provided directly from DOR officials:
- The Georgia DOR implemented two major system changes this year, including "Credit Manager" (which makes the process for claiming the QEE tax credit slightly different from prior years), and "Fraud Manager," designed to reduce the instances of tax fraud and refund theft.
- The DOR released a press release in February, related to "Fraud Manager" and the impact it might have on the processing of 2015 Georgia income tax returns. Click here to view the full press release. See below for a summary of the key points.
New Fraud Prevention Measures to Delay Refunds (Excerpts from DOR Press Release issued February 11, 2016):
Due to issues during 2015 regarding security breaches of third party preparers and the constant threat of tax fraud and refund theft, the Department of Revenue is taking additional fraud prevention measures this filing season to ensure tax refunds are issued to the correct individuals. These additional measures may create the need to further review a tax return, and ultimately extend the time between when an individual files their tax return and when they receive their tax refund.
In summary, the delays in processing 2015 taxpayer returns is not due to taxpayers taking the QEE credit. Rather, it is due to tighter review procedures required as a result of the Fraud Manager software. Taxpayer information which is different from that provided in the prior year can prompt the requirement for the DOR to manually review the income tax return. This can include changes in the following basic data:
- Taxpayer IP address
- Taxpayer Name
- Taxpayer Address
- Taxpayer Job
- Taxpayer Dependents
After this first year of Fraud Manager implementation, the processing of taxpayer returns is expected to return to a smoother and faster process, according to DOR officials. Meanwhile, we hope this will assist with setting expectations and assuring taxpayers that any delay they experience is not due to their claiming of the QEE tax credit. Based upon feedback from some taxpayers, calling the DOR at 1-877-423-6711 to inquire about your return may help to expedite the release of your refund.