How Safe Are Direct Deposit Tax Refunds? Ask Georgia's Taxpayers

Georgia's Department of Revenue is dealing with the fallout of a mistake that's proving costly for some taxpayers.

Several reports out of Atlanta suggest that many people who filed early 2010 tax returns in Georgia saw their direct-deposit refunds vanish days after they showed up in their accounts. People who spent the money, used it to pay bills or simply transferred it to another account are upset to discover they have to resolve bounced checks and overdraft fees.