Oregon taxpayers who file returns as soon as possible in order to claim a refund may have to wait longer to get their cash in 2017. The Oregon Department of Revenue says it will hold onto state income tax refunds until February 15.
The agency said the delay will allow it time to more thoroughly match information on early refund requests with data reported by employers. The Department says the vast majority of tax returns filed before mid-February are from people expecting refunds.
It's also a popular time for fraudsters, who try to get lost in the avalanche of early returns from those requesting legitimate refunds.
The move follows a similar anti-fraud measure from the federal Internal Revenue Service. The IRS is also delaying refunds until February 15, but only to taxpayers who are using a pair of tax credits meant to benefit households with children.