Tax-related identity theft is common, but the Internal Revenue Service is often too slow to move when refunds become ensnarled by the actions of bad actors. Taxpayers who have been the victims of identity theft have experienced significant delays when requesting refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins released her annual report to Congress, highlighting improvements in taxpayer service, but pointing to persistent delays.

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins told lawmakers today that the Internal Revenue Service has made significant progress in improving taxpayer service but warned that “continued funding is critical to enable the IRS to successfully deliver on its mission and transform how it works with taxpayers going forward.

The IRS has set January 10 as the start date for accepting 2024 tax returns. Early filers can expect timely refunds, but several factors may cause delays. Learn how to track your refund and what might affect the timeline.