Early refunds

You can file when you get your w2s on your own, or you can go to HR block with your last pay stub, but you have to pay their fees. e-filing does get you your return faster than mailing it in.

The reason why SOME refunds may be late this year is because they passed a law late that raised the ATM which is a cap on deductions you can claim that was passed in 1969 so that high-income people can't claim too many deductions and end up owing little to no tax. Well, it hadn't been increased until this year for inflation so many higher middle-class people where finding this as an unfair limit.

You will probably have a delay if you use any of these forms:

Form 8863, Education Credits
Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits
Schedule 2, Form 1040A, Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A Filers
Form 8396, Mortgage Interest Credit
Form 8859, District of Columbia First-Time Homebuyer Credit

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=176605,00.html - For the actual press release.