The Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama income tax refunds should arrive earlier than last year.

They aren't saying that some delays won't occur, but Bill Newton, acting director of finance, said that this year returns are being paid earlier. A major reason for this is because the Alabama Education Trust Fund, where tax refunds are stored, is a little more flush with cash this year.

While officials from the Alabama Department of Revenue, the department that handles tax returns, and the Alabama Department of Finance, which actually mails out the refund checks, say delays are still possible, they say the sort of months-long delays some taxpayers suffered last year are unlikely.