Tax Mistake Affecting Thousands
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: March 13, 2013
PEORIA - A small tax mistake is making thousands of people wait even longer for their return.
It all has to do with form 8863 for a higher education tax credit.
In the past, tax preparer could leave some boxes blank for 'no', but this year they had to fill them in. Businesses like H&R Block that use software to help file didn't update the system to fill in those boxes.
Thousands of students and families with students may now have to re-file for that credit, which is worth up to $2,500.
"The problem with all the tax payers is they had to wait until February 15th to begin with, which typically they could have done this January 15th and now, so they've already waited a month and now they're kind of out in space for six weeks," said William Sharpe, president of Total Income Tax.
Sharpe said returns don't always come when they're supposed to. He advises to never plan big payments until you see that money in your mailbox or bank account.
