Tax refunds? Really?

"Get Hopes Up" and "USVI Government" are oxymorons.

I'm still waiting on 2010, because it has taken them over a year to correct a simple item on the return.

About a 2 months ago I got my '07 return...two weeks later I got my '08...still waiting for '09 up...no corrections needed, either, just simple 1040 forms filed as a single person...it's how things work in the islands...very slowly!

Spoke with the nice lady today at VI IRB.
No 2011 REFUNDS going out right now.
And if you have a 2010, they have to send that first ...when they have the money.
And there's the rub. They won't send a current refund if you have an older refund still pending.

If you're waiting on prior year's, I would strongly recommend contacting them to find out the details of the hold up.

In my case, it was an odd question and a mistake in their input:

1. They needed to verify the age of one of my children.
2. They had misread my return and inputted $2322 for certain line, rather than $22.33, and flagged my return as needing a special schedule (yet they didn't contact me to tell me this).

They will pull your return over to the side until they have figured it out or heard from you, but the contacting part of the process isn't what it should be, and it helps to call.

Also....they are making no promises about refund schedules, because it's out of their control.

After reading these boards why would you ever let them owe you money???

Claim dependents and pay them when you can

There are a lot of people who are self employed/independent contractors that get stuck in the spot where they owe for Social Security/Med, which gets filed separately and is paid stateside IRS, but are owed refunds for tax credits and such which is the responsibility of the IRB, locally. And you can't use the credit against the debt, so you are just stuck. Most of the people that are in this position are lower income and do not have the funds to pay IRS in the states without the refund they get from the IRB locally. Makes for a lot of people who just roll the dice and don't file or people who file and cannot pay. Sucks.

Spoke with the nice lady today at VI IRB.
No 2011 REFUNDS going out right now.
And if you have a 2010, they have to send that first ...when they have the money.
And there's the rub. They won't send a current refund if you have an older refund still pending.

If you're waiting on prior year's, I would strongly recommend contacting them to find out the details of the hold up.

In my case, it was an odd question and a mistake in their input:

1. They needed to verify the age of one of my children.
2. They had misread my return and inputted $2322 for certain line, rather than $22.33, and flagged my return as needing a special schedule (yet they didn't contact me to tell me this).

They will pull your return over to the side until they have figured it out or heard from you, but the contacting part of the process isn't what it should be, and it helps to call.

Also....they are making no promises about refund schedules, because it's out of their control.

If you have the number handy, would you please share it? Thanks!

VI IRB - STT 715-1040, STX 773-1040

Thank you!! (tu)

It apparently does pay to call... I think! I called today and was told that my check was mailed last year... but I never got it, and I haven't changed my address. So they're looking into it. Fingers crossed... Anyway, my point is that if you haven't called, you should!

Just received my 2010 tax refund today.

Question for you Margaritagirl:

What month did you file it in 2011?

Was there a hold-up processing your particular return for any reason?
Mine was held up due to a math error (theirs) and their odd question about the age of one of my kids for whom I had a deduction.
(never ever been asked that question before and they didn't ask it about my 2011).

THEY DON"T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY YOUR REFUNDS!

Our VI Government, who cannot budget their way out of a paper bag, have misspent your money on their wasteful and inane pet projects, have borrowed from Peter to pay Paul and now Peter is broke and so is Paul. You won't be getting any refunds until they manage to squeeze more money out of the taxpayer, somehow, so don't bother complaining. It won't do you any good.
You'll get your refund............eventually. It may take a couple years or more but they'll "eventually" pay you.
Meantime, enjoy the tropics!

And, they pay interest during the wait.

And, they pay interest during the wait.

Yes and after waiting a couple of years or more for your refund you might be able to buy yourself a cheeseburger at McDonalds.
Ask Marty!

Neil,
We filed in March of 2011.
Didn't have a reason for it being held up.

For what it's worth I've heard from several friends who've received their 2011 refunds in the last few weeks ...

We finally got our 2010 refund in July 2012

Received 2010 last week, even cleared in 24 hours!

Received my 2010 refund on Thursday and I have since moved off island - so even my change of address form was filed correctly. Phone call after phone call - no one could ever answer that question for me, never mind the status on the refund itself. Now to wait for my 2011 refund.

Well, vihealth, I think you answered my latest question... what to do when nothing's happening. Of course, no one from the IRB ever called me back, so I've been calling them every couple of days, only to get transferred each time to a line that is never answered. At least now they know that my check was never received (lost in the mail? never sent?), so maybe someday I'll finally get it. Of course, I'm sure they have no funds for it now. If it were $200 or something, I'd just let it go and move on with my life, but we're talking about $3500 here. Ugh. If anyone has any better suggestions, I'm all ears. I'll be back on island in November, so I'll try handling this in person then.

Just received my 2010 & 2011 refund last week. Better late than never I guess.

Just go into the office and ask for Miss Richards. She a saint doing sinners work.
Bring a paper with your request, old and new address and SS# addressed to her in case she's not there. If you call She doesn't return calls but does get messages, but keep calling.

If your return went to their audit dept good luck, but Ms R might be able to help.

I called yesterday and the woman said they are currently sending out checks for people who filed in April of 2010, then they will do May, June, etc. She had no knowledge of the 'news' that the checks will all be sent out by September. I guess it's good to call just to make sure there are no issues with your return.

Getting closer....

http://stcroixsource.com/content/news/local-news/2012/09/05/irb-says-tax-refunds-will-speed-once-government-closes-bonds

— September 5, 2012

The V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau will accelerate its processing of tens of thousands of delayed income tax refunds once the government closes on new bonds currently awaiting legislative authorization, IRB Director Claudette Watson-Anderson said during budget hearings Tuesday.

So far in Fiscal Year 2012, IRB has processed 9,118 income tax refunds totaling $28.5 million. This includes refunds for the 2010 tax year and before, Watson-Anderson said.

As of Aug. 31, the inventory of unpaid refunds totaled $63 million payable to 27,735 taxpayers, she said. Of this, $46 million is due to 20,557 taxpayers for 2011; $13 million to 6,490 taxpayers for 2010; and $4 million to 688 taxpayers for all other previous tax years, she said.

If and when bond proceeds from bonds whose legislative authorization is currently awaiting approval from the Senate arrive, "the payment of refunds will be accelerated and will continue until the budgeted amount for Fiscal Year 2012 of $95 million is fully expended," she said. IRB is anticipating the funds around Sept. 13, she said.