Democracy Dies in Darkness
Personal Finance

Late tax refunds, stimulus money and child tax credit payments frustrate families, and poor IRS communication isn’t helping

GAO report says IRS is not communicating enough to taxpayers the nature and extent of returns processing and refund delays.

Perspective by
Columnist
July 27, 2021 at 4:43 p.m. EDT
Many parents complain they can't get through to the IRS to inquire about delayed child tax credit payments. (Washington Post illustration)

When you promise people something and they see others getting it while they do not, it can make them angry.

This sums up the feelings of many struggling families who are still waiting for the IRS to send them their tax refunds, stimulus payments, or monthly installments of the advance child tax credit — or all three.