Tax refunds for 48 million people could be delayed because of government shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Fox 32 News) - Your tax refund could be significantly delayed if the government shutdown continues.

The partial shutdown, which began Dec. 22, has cut off funding to the Treasury Department. That has led to the IRS sending home about 90 percent of its staff, according to the Washington Post.

The IRS has said in the past that it would not issue any tax refunds during a shutdown. Last year, during the period of late January through the beginning of March, the IRS paid out $147 billion in refunds to more than 48 million households, the Post reported.

The IRS will "finalize and release its plans" soon, the Washington Post reported.