Source:
The Seattle TimesThe IRS says people who bought airline tickets on or after July 23, and are traveling now, are entitled to a refund on federal taxes, but how easy it will be to get the money back is up in the air.
The refunds are due because Congress let the taxes expire after a budget showdown last weekend effectively shut down the Federal Aviation Administration.
Until things are resolved, airlines can't collect the taxes on tickets sold after July 23, and the government isn't authorized to collect the taxes on tickets sold before that time if people who bought those tickets travel during the shutdown period.
Most airlines raised fares by the amount of the uncollected taxes, and pocketed the difference, a move that has drawn ire from government officials. The FAA estimated its losses at $30 million a day, most of which is now going to the airlines that have raised fares. Delta Air Lines said it's getting an extra $4 million to $5 million a day.
Read more:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2015754252_trtaxes28.html
I called my airline to request a refund o the tax on the flight I'm taking tomorrow... They said I need to ask the IRS for a refund.
These MF'ers have all my ticket and credit card info and could EASILY refund the $50+ buck to my card and then send a bulk request to the IRS on behalf of all their fliers.
Instead they want thousands of individuals to contact the IRS who have no procedure in place to verify my transaction with the airline.
Why do these airlines hate their customers?