State Tax Refunds Still Backlogged

Computer problems continue to prevent New Jersey taxpayers from receiving their tax refunds.

The New Jersey Department of Treasury tells the Bergen Record the transition to a new computer system is to blame. Personnel are working to process approximately  183,000 refunds that could take until August to complete. 4 per cent of the 4.7 million files returned have yet to be processed.

Some of the returns which are handwritten or filed by non-residents have to be processed by hand Treasury spokesman Bill Quinn tells the Record.

Taxpayers who have called to check on the status of their return say they have not been able to get information.

Refunds were delayed earlier in the year by an anti-fraud program in which filers were asked to provide additional information such as Social Security cards and pay stubs for verification. Nearly half of those tax filers have received letters dropping the matter.

Governor Christie addressed the problem during the March edition of his monthly Ask The Governor program on Townsquare Media's 11 radio stations across the state. Christie said the Division of Taxation became "over aggressive" in their anti-fraud efforts focused on people who are getting tax refunds when they are not entitled to them.

The program was suspended in April.