Thousands of Maryland residents eagerly awaiting their tax refunds have been met with frustration and uncertainty as delays persist in the processing of returns. The Maryland Office of the Comptroller has attributed these delays to technical issues stemming from the recent launch of their new online tax portal.

The system downtime, which occurred between January 30 and February 9, was a result of efforts to implement Maryland Tax Connect, the state’s new online tax filing platform. While taxpayers were still able to submit their returns during this period, the processing of refunds was halted until the system was restored.

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman emphasized the necessity of the system upgrade, stating that Maryland Tax Connect is a crucial component of modernizing the agency and streamlining tax-related processes for residents and business owners alike. Although currently accessible only to business owners, the portal is slated to become available to all taxpayers by 2026.

The backlog of returns awaiting processing has left many individuals like Sunny, who typically receive their refunds promptly, facing unexpected financial strain. With over 330,000 returns in the queue, the Office of the Comptroller has mobilized additional staff to expedite the processing of refunds.

While the office reassures taxpayers that refunds for those who filed before the official start of tax season on January 29 can expect their refunds to be processed over the coming weekend or early next week, the delay has nonetheless caused inconvenience and hardship for many Maryland residents eagerly awaiting their refunds.