By Nick Gale, WLS News

(SPRINGFIELD) If you’re anticipating a tax refund from state, you’ll have to wait.

The Illinois Department of Revenue does not anticipate releasing Individual Income Tax refunds for the 2016 tax filing season until March 1, 2016.

It’s not the state budget woes that will hold back those refunds, but efforts to fight tax return fraud.

Listen to Nick Gale’s report for WLS radio news:

The department says by delaying tax refunds by a few weeks, it will be able to better detect attempts at identity theft and ensure taxpayer refunds do not fall into the hands of criminals.

For electronic returns filed prior to March 1, 2016, the department anticipates refunds to be issued within two to three weeks from March 1.

For electronic returns submitted on or after March 1, the department anticipates refunds to be issued within two to three weeks from the date the return was submitted.

@ 2016 WLS News