Question: I keep hearing ads or announcements on the radio about federal tax refunds being delayed. I haven’t heard anything from the IRS. What’s going on?
Answer: Not all federal tax refunds are stalled, but refunds to millions of low-income early filers are delayed, according to the Internal Revenue Service. A federal law that took effect this year requires the IRS not to issue refunds on tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit until Wednesday at the earliest.
Those credits are for lower-income filers. The delay gives the IRS more time to detect fraudulent claims, and applies no matter how early the taxpayer filed the return (the federal filing season opened Jan. 23). Under the law, the IRS must delay the entire refund, including any amount not associated with the EITC and ACTC.
The IRS said that even though it will begin releasing EITC and ACTC refunds Wednesday, many early filers won’t receive their money until the week of Feb. 27. The agency blamed the additional lag on weekends, the Presidents Day holiday and the time it takes banks to process direct deposits.
The vast majority of federal tax refunds will be issued in the usual 21 days or less, the IRS said.
Those who have not already filed their federal taxes get a few extra days this year, thanks to a weekend and a holiday in the District of Columbia. Rather than the usual April 15, this year’s deadline is April 19.
Q: For relocation purposes, where can I learn about Hawaii’s elementary schools?
A: Although you didn’t mention being in the military, we’d recommend that you start at the state Department of Education’s FAQ for military families, 808ne.ws/2lufhZh. After the first few military-centric answers, it addresses questions of interest to any family new to Hawaii. The “find schools” function at the top right corner of the page brings up clickable maps (by island) of regular public schools in Hawaii’s single, statewide system. Click on a school name for details about that institution. The FAQ also links to information about home-schooling in Hawaii, and to the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools’ website (hais.org), where you’ll find details about individual private schools. Public charter schools also are an option in Hawaii. For information about them, go to the State Public Charter School Commission’s website (808ne.ws/chart808) and click on “about schools.”
E kala mai
Dear Nalu: You came by my office at the University of Hawaii at Manoa at the end of December, asking whether there were tours of the Chemistry Department. I said no. You said that you were a high school student. We talked a little more, and then you left, saying wistfully, “I really like science.” I realized after a few minutes that I should have talked to you longer. Please come back to visit. We can talk about science and chemistry, and I can show you a few things around my building. — Karl Seff, professor emeritus of chemistry
Auwe
Police enforcement of pedestrian laws has got to be more consistent. Monday afternoon I saw a guy walk across River Street on Nimitz Highway, a red light facing him, right after a police SUV went by. A few weeks before, I got ticketed for crossing where there was no crosswalk across from APB Skateshop. If I have to do the right thing, everyone else does. — Someone entirely irate
Mahalo
I am overwhelmed by the kindness of people. While at Ala Moana Center, I accidentally locked my keys in my car trunk. People called security for me. I am a senior citizen, and two engineers paid $60 for a locksmith to unlock my car and were gone before I could thank them. I hope that I will be able to help others with the kindness that I received from all these wonderful people. — Mahalo from a grateful senior
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
