Some States Delaying Tax Refund Payments

From CBS News.com:

Some states suffering severe, recession-induced budget problems are holding off on paying tax refunds to individuals and businesses. North Carolina, Hawaii and Alabama are already doing it and others, such as New York and Kansas, might.

The states are holding or may hold onto your money as long as they can because they need to use it for other purposes, tax expert and attorney Barbara Weltman told "Early Show" Saturday Edition" co-anchor Chris Wragge.

You'll eventually get your refund, but when depends on where you live, she explained. Laws differ from state-to-state, but most states have to issue a check (or direct deposit) within 45 days from April 15 or the date the return was filed, whichever is later. So, if you filed your return in February, the refund isn't due until 45 days after April 15. Some states have even longer — up to 90 days — to issue the refunds without having to pay interest.

Weltman says she sees this becoming a long-term problem because, even if the economy recovers, many states will have huge leftover budget gaps. "I think the best strategy for tax payers is to avoid the need to get a refund — which is really just an interest-free loan you've made to the government," she observed.