IRS Claims Shutdown Will Delay Tax Refunds

Sure, that's totally the reason why

Here's another reason to be annoyed at the 16-day government shutdown: It could delay tax refunds for millions of early filers by one or two weeks, the Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday.

The IRS won't start processing returns until at least Jan. 28 and possibly as late as Feb. 4, instead of the planned start date of January 21. Should the government shut down again in January over budget talks scheduled as part of the deal to reopen the federal government, refunds could be tied up even longer.

Taxpayers still must file a return by April 15, and companies must still send W-2 and other tax forms on schedule, usually by Jan. 31.