Those concerns are valid according to accountants, who are strongly advising people to file early this year, as they could encounter delays, particularly as they get closer to the filing deadline. The Internal Revenue Service began accepting tax returns on Jan. 27 and will continue to do so until April 15, unless a taxpayer asks for an extension.

If you submit a complete and accurate paper tax return, you can expect your refund within six to eight weeks from the date the IRS receives it. For electronic returns, your refund will typically be issued in under three weeks, and even faster if you select direct deposit.