Taxpayers receive quicker refunds when using non-paper filing programs.
The DOR's Telefile program, for example, issues refunds to filers in 2-3 weeks. The DOR also is able to save money by reducing the number of employees required to process tax returns. In most cases, refunds for taxpayers using the short form paper return were issued in about 28 days compared to the 37-day turnaround time required in 1997. Once extensions and late returns are filed, the department expects to process 1.8 million returns this year.