Wait almost over for NC tax refunds

North Carolina residents can expect state tax refunds by mid-May. Department of Revenue spokeswoman says all state tax refunds were paid by May 13th last year, "so we're hoping to be on or about that same time frame this year." The department had delayed paying some refunds to make sure state government had enough money to pay its bills. Stevenson says the state has paid about 1.7 million refunds so far. She says recipients will begin to accrue 5 percent interest if the state doesn't pay up by May 30th, as long as returns were filed on time. Stevenson says the average refund this year is bigger. This year the average taxpayer is receiving about $589, up from $555 last year.