Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Jeff Lavigne plans to use a tax refund this year for long-delayed medical help.
Yet his refund, almost $2,700, has been in limbo since mid-March, when Lavigne filed his tax return, records show.
The IRS flagged the return for potential identity theft — as it did for nearly 2 million Americans last year.
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The money has been withheld until Lavigne can verify his identity. The process has proven difficult — phone lines are clogged and online authentication is unavailable.
Lavigne, 42, has chronic back pain that makes work difficult over sustained periods. The former restaurant manager doesn’t have a full-time job or health insurance. An extra $2,700, which includes pandemic stimulus funds, would help pay for monthly premiums and let him visit a specialist.
“I started making plans in my head, in terms of getting the help I need,” said Lavigne, who lives in a suburb of Dallas. “I’m trying to take one step at a time, and this is step one.”
Delayed tax refunds
Jeff Lavigne, 42, filed his federal tax return in March. He hasn’t yet received his refund. The IRS flagged the return for potential identity fraud.
Jeff Lavigne
It’s unclear how many taxpayers’ refunds have been delayed during the 2021 filing season. But it’s an issue for a growing number of…
