I'm not from Canada so can't share any personal experience. Not being familiar with the filings needed to get an out-of-U.S. refund, I don't know if electronic filing is an option, but if so, my experience as a U.S. taxpayer is that electronic filing has sped up my refunds substantially. Even if electronic filing is available I'm not sure that out-of-U.S. refunds haven't been "carved out" of the efficiency.
All the "other factors" are irrelevant, but it certainly is not right. I also don't know if you get paid interest on a delayed refund (we do), but even if you do, rates are so low that it doesn't amount to adequate compensation. If you don't, it sucks even more.
Be assured that almost no one in the U.S. likes our tax system or its administration or its policies very much either.
As to whether it will affect tourism to the U.S., I'm sure a small percentage of people will choose not to come to the U.S. because of this, but I don't think the numbers are likely big enough to have any significant impact on anything, least of all any changes in the way things are handled. Tax laws are already ruining advantage play for all but the pro's, and the rest of the picture is ruining it for almost everyone, as you surely observe if you follow this list. Gamblers, including recreational gamblers, receive almost no concern from the U.S. tax system at all and are, if anything, a target for more grief instead of grief relief.
Clearly it's not a good business decision for Congress to underfund the IRS, which administers the main source of income for the government, but it certainly is a good business decision by the IRS to then prioritize its reduced resources away from processing refunds - this would even make good sense for the government with regard to U.S. citizens' refunds, since the only "alternative" for the citizen is to under-withhold (if an option) and avoid refunds -- a strategy many / most already try to use. Good for the U.S. of course, not for its "customers" who are mostly a captive audience.
--BG=================
6a. 2014 Tax refund delayed
I was just wondering if there were any Canadian players that are still waiting for their refunds from the IRS?
I sent my Tax forms in January of 2015 and I am still waiting for my refund. I was told that their were cutback in the IRS and that tax returns for residents out side of the US will be put on the back burners.
I was told that the refunds would be delayed by 6 months and I accepted that. Then I was informed that the 6 month delay would not start till June 15 and that these returns would be processed by December 15, 2015, well that has not happened and now I'm being told that this refund will only be looked at sometime in 2016.
It's a real travesty as many Canadian gamblers come to Vegas, they pay big dollars for flights and are burdened with the exchange rate which now is 30% and this is how the US government is treating the people that bring in big money and some of their best customers/tourists. It just doesn't make sense.
They take 30% of all jackpots over $1199.00 and when we file legitimate tax returns we are being denied the right to even have these processed in a timely manner if at all.
I just want to know your opinions on whether you think this is right and fair and if this along with other factors will affect the Canadian tourist industry.
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