Stimulus check delays are frustrating.

This has left many of us in Lexington County wondering when our checks will arrive.

If you’re using the IRS “Track My Payment” tool, it may say a check was mailed Jan. 6.

So why haven’t you received it by now?

The reason could have to do with an update on the IRS FAQ page, WIS-TV reported.

The IRS may say your check was mailed Jan. 6, but the date was probably when the IRS released your money for the check to be printed and mailed.

The IRS webpage has since been updated to say it may take 3-4 weeks for you to receive payment.

SC jobless claims fall

SC initial unemployment claims dropped by almost 2,000 for the week ending Jan. 16 as the total amount of benefits paid since March 15 neared $5 billion.

The SC Department of Employment and Workforce has paid out $4.92 billion in a combination of state and federal benefits since the covid-19 pandemic took hold in the state in March 2020. For the most recent week, 6,683 initial claims were filed, down 1,952 from the 8,635 filed the previous week.

Since March 15, 2020, 825,538 initial claims have been filed in the state, according to DEW data.

File your taxes Feb. 12

The Internal Revenue Service won’t start accepting your 2020 individual income tax returns until Feb. 12.

That’s weeks later than usual.

It means you won’t get a refund - if you do - until later, too.

Even with a shorter filing time, your tax returns need to be filed by April 15. The IRS needs time to program and test their computers after the new stimulus payments.

Millions of us who didn’t get the full stimulus payments will be able to claim the money through our 2020 tax returns.

This includes those who had children during 2020 and those who didn’t qualify for the full payments based on 2019 income but whose income fell in 2020.

You may be surprised to learn that unemployment insurance benefits are tax able, too.

The Feb. 12 filing start means later refunds could slow consumer spending.

Under a law designed to limit fraud, the IRS could not pay refunds until mid-February to anyone receiving the earned-income tax credit and the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

District 1’s Hill to retire

Mary Beth Hill, Lexington School District 1 chief communications officer, plans to retire beginning July 1.

District 1 Superintendent Greg Little, Ed.D., made the announcement last week.

“An advocate for public education and public educators, Ms. Hill uses her talent, leadership, proactive communication practices, and uncommonly strong ethics to help district administrators equally, whether with celebrations or challenges,” said Little.

Hill, who has more than 44 years of marketing, public relations, and corporate communications experience in both the private and public sectors, joined the district in 1996.

In planning for Hill’s retirement, the district will advertise the chief communications officer opening in February and create a succession plan.

Library books due sooner

Lexington County Public Library is switching back to shorter borrow times.

Borrowed materials will now be due back in 3 weeks.

At the beginning of the pandemic, loan periods were temporarily extended to 6 weeks.

The new 3-week deadline is still longer than the pre-pandemic due dates of 1-2 weeks.