Georgia: Budget cuts said to be slowing down tax refunds

ATLANTA — The state Department of Revenue says budget cuts have resulted in having almost 500,000 state income tax returns still to be processed.

The agency says it could be five months before all returns are finalized.

Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham said the agency has absorbed a $12 million budget cut this year and has had to eliminate nearly 280 jobs since October, including 155 in the processing division alone.

He said the cuts have directly impacted the department’s ability to efficiently process tax returns, especially those filed on paper rather than electronically.