Helming Calls for Prompt Delivery of State Tax Refunds To Hardworking Taxpayers

GENEVA, NY – Senator Pam Helming announced today that the New York State Senate has passed legislation she cosponsors that would ensure hardworking taxpayers receive timely payment of their state income tax refund. This bill requires the State Department of Taxation and Finance to pay refunds within 20 days of receiving a taxpayer’s return.

“Many of the people I represent depend on their refund checks to pay rent or to buy necessities for their children. I have talked with many taxpayers who are frustrated by the delay of their refunds. A refund is taxpayer money that they’ve lent to the state, interest free. When the roles are reversed, the state will come after individuals who are late paying their taxes. As such, the state needs to do a better job getting refunds out to taxpayers in a timely matter and this measure will help ensure that this happens. Refund delays are costly and unnecessary. We need to put taxpayers first and that starts with ensuring they get their refunds on time,” said Senator Pam Helming.

As the April 17^th state tax deadline for filing returns approaches, it is critically important that all New Yorkers who overpaid their state taxes receive refunds in a timely manner. However, there have been numerous incidents of taxpayers having to wait three months or more before they received their refunds from the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

Under this legislation(S2152), if the state is unable to pay a tax refund due to a discrepancy in the return, then the department would have to provide written notice to the taxpayer and a date when the discrepancy will be resolved. If the state fails to meet this obligation, it would also be liable to pay interest on the refund owed to the taxpayer. 

The bill has passed the Senate and has now been sent to the Assembly for their review and consideration.

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.

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