Georgians have to wait for income tax refunds

A copy of a IRS 1040 tax form is seen at an H&R Block office on the day President Donald Trump signed the Republican tax cut bill in Washington, D.C.,  on Dec. 22, 2017 in Miami, Fla.  (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Credit: Joe Raedle

Credit: Joe Raedle

A copy of a IRS 1040 tax form is seen at an H&R Block office on the day President Donald Trump signed the Republican tax cut bill in Washington, D.C.,  on Dec. 22, 2017 in Miami, Fla. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Georgia income tax refunds might not be issued until more than 90 days after returns are filed this year as the state guards against the threat of tax fraud.

The Georgia Department of Revenue blocked more than $212 million in fraudulently filed refund requests last year. Meanwhile, the IRS is warning of an ongoing email scam in which people pose as potential clients to trick tax professionals into disclosing sensitive information.

All businesses must file their employee W-2 information by Jan. 31, and the state will begin processing individual income tax returns Feb. 1.

The deadline to file tax returns is April 17 this year — two days later than normal — because April 15 falls on a Sunday and April 16 is an official holiday in the District of Columbia for Emancipation Day.