N.C. behind on issuing tax refunds

A state Department of Revenue spokesman said Thursday that North Carolinians are waiting longer for their tax refunds than last year, but the department plans to catch up by the end of the month.

The DOR missed a May 15 goal to process all refunds but is confident that it will be able to issue all checks by May 31, department spokesman Thomas Bearn said. He could not say how many people are waiting on their refunds.

State law stipulates that refunds issued after May 31 are considered late, and taxpayers start accruing interest on the tardy payments.

So far, the state has issued 2.4 million refunds, totaling $1.7 billion.

At this point in 2009, the state had issued 2.2 million refunds, totaling $1.9 billion. All the refunds were issued by May 13.