Some May Have Longer Wait for Tax Refund

COLUMBIA, S.C. (CNN) – If you’re a victim of identity theft, expect a long wait for your tax refund. ID theft victims were told to wait 180 days — or nearly six months — for their returns to be processed last year. An IRS watchdog group says there could be similar or even longer delays this year. According to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, the IRS waits to give refunds until it conducts a load of internal paperwork, even if it has already determined that the identify theft victim is owed a refund. In an annual report to Congress, the TAS recommends faster refund access and setting up a single point of contact for victims. The IRS says its current setup is effective and it has improved procedures for stopping identity theft.