“We want to make sure that the person who earned that money and deserves the refund gets it: not a scammer halfway across the world.”
FORT SMITH, Ark. — By the start of March, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) had already processed nearly half a million tax returns this year, and refunds are rolling out. Before you hit “submit” on your filing, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the DFA, said that in addition to the nearly 500,000 returns by the beginning of March, the state had issued around 240,000 refunds. The average refund amount this year in Arkansas is about $380.
Hardin said most Arkansans are choosing to file online instead of by mail, which helps speed up the process.
If you file online, you can expect your refund to take about three to four weeks. If you file by mail, he said to add two more weeks to that estimate.
Another thing to watch out for when filing taxes is fraud. The state has already flagged over 10,000 fraudulent tax filings this year.
“Sometimes it may take an extra few days,” Hardin said. “The reason is we want to make sure that you, the person who earned that money and deserves the refund, get it and not a scammer halfway across the world.”
To keep your information safe, he advises people to avoid using public WiFi when filing and make sure that any tax preparer you use is insured and bonded.
To avoid delays, Hardin says double-checking your return is key. When asked about common mistakes, Hardin said that “A lot of the time it’s maybe just leaving something blank … Or forgetting to submit something that’s supposed to accompany it.”
The deadline to file or request an extension is April 15.
If you’re wondering about your refund status, the state has an online tool where you can check at any time. Some Arkansans may qualify to file taxes for free. Details on free filing resources can be found here.
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