(Photo by Dave Apple)
The State of Alabama makes me angry.
We filed our taxes electronically on February 16th. We owed the federal government, and the state of Alabama owed us. The feds took our money immediately as you would expect them to. (Yes, I know we could have scheduled the payment for later, but come on let’s just make this easy.) Alabama accepted our return immediately.
But they haven’t paid us. It’s been a month and a half. Nothing back electronically into our bank account.
The Hypocrisy of Our Tax System
Let me get this right. If I owed the state money they would want me to pay it immediately. If I went past the tax deadline they would even consider charging me interest and fees until I paid. Why? They are essentially floating me a loan.
And I understand that. If I owe someone money I should pay it and be done with it.
Yet when the government (state or federal) owes me money I am not allowed to charge them interest or fees. I am floating the government a loan and getting nothing in return.
We aren’t talking a huge amount of money here. Less than $1,000. But it is the principle of the thing here folks.
Next year we should file our taxes on the last possible day and thumb our noses at the government. Frankly I find this all ridiculous. (And I would vote and campaign for anyone who put something on the state law books about being able to charge the government money. But you and I know that will never happen.)
Hey Alabama. You owe me money. Give it to me. Please.
Anyone else out there waiting on their state (or even the feds) to pay them back?
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“Your 2008 tax year refund has not been processed as of this date. Please allow 12 weeks from the date your return was mailed.” This is what the website says, does that mean they have received it and have yet to process??
We have been waiting for our state of Alabama refund for three months. We also filed electronically.
We filed our state of alabama taxes on April 7, 2009, electronically. as of July 1, 2009, we haven’t received it or heard anything. We filed our Fed the same day and received it in 3 weeks.
After reading all the comments I feel it is quite unjust to make law abiding, tax paying Alabama residents wait so long for thier refunds. I filed electronically March 17th and still no refund. It is not a huge amount of money but my wife and I were going to use the refund for our vacation at the end of July.
If we do not receive our refund before July 24th we will be forced to cancel our vacation. The State of Alabama in my opinion should not only give us our refund but the money we have paid for our upcoming vacation if we do indeed have to cancel…….I know this will never happen but to the “State of Alabama” shame on you!
This is July 6, and I am still waiting and haven’t heard a word.
Sam
July 6th, filed late January, and still no return. website says it’s being processed for the last 3 months.
WOW….I am afraid to say this here, but I got mine back quickly….I filed on Jan 22 and got my refund in my checking acct on Feb 6…..
Me, You were one of the ones who filed before the money ran out.
I have checked and my Fed was received in 14 days and it was filed the same day as my state’s
I personally think that it is so pitiful that those poor incompetent people keep getting elected to office.They always want more money from us.When will it be enough?My refund is not much but it sure could help.I think that, rather i should hope that the people of this state and country will wake up.What good is served by electing the same (public servants) who only want to pad their own pockets and pass rediculous bills and waste our money!While we wait on the scraps like a bunch of starving dogs trying to survive.
I finally received my refund on July 17th. It took nearly four months to get it.
AL is awful with respect to managing money. The taxes come out of an education trust fund. I have no problem with helping public schools but I do have a problem with helping the universities. Univ of AL just did a massive building project on campus…including a new wing to the stadium (with luxury boxes) and since that was not enough, another expansion of the stadium. This drained millions from taxpayers. No assistance given to students in need or taxpayers in need of refunds. The only (minor) consolation is that you get interest on any refund not paid within 90 days. This is nothing. Overall, AL needs to get its s%&# together and prioritize. They especially need to cut back on university presidents who think they are mini-napoleans running a mini-empire. Stadium is top-rate but the rest of the community/state is sub-par at best. WIthout souls….
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