Olson said she “can’t predict” how refund totals will look at the end of the tax season, but said that taxpayers who have a balance due tend to file close to the April 15 deadline to prolong having to pay the IRS for as long as possible.
However, Olson said the number of people who are receiving a lower-than-expected refund or finding out they owe is concerning because “they have allocated that refund for something,” she said.
The trouble is compounded when people find out that they owe the IRS, Olson told the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Thursday. Those who have a balance due and try to call the IRS for help wait on average 60 minutes. And only about 15 percent of calls get answered at all, she said.
“I am very concerned about this,” Olson said. “It creates more work for the IRS and more burden for the taxpayer.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.