Delta to refund taxes for travel during shutdown

Delta Air Lines says it will refund the ticket taxes charged for travel during the Federal Aviation Administration shutdown. The refunds will apply to people who bought tickets before the FAA shutdown began on July 23 and then traveled during the shutdown. Passengers who bought tickets after the shutdown began didn't pay the taxes. The refunds won't happen right away. Delta says it is waiting for guidance from the IRS about how to handle the process. Last week the IRS said airlines could issue direct refunds. Delta is the first to say it will do so. Other airlines have been referring travelers to the IRS for refunds. The IRS has said passengers who can't get a refund from their airline will eventually be able to submit a claim to the IRS along with proof of taxes paid and travel dates. During the current shutdown, all the major airlines have stopped collecting federal taxes, which can add up to $60 on a $300 round-trip ticket. Instead, they have raised fares by the amount of the taxes. Travelers are paying the same now as they did before the FAA shutdown, but the money—some $30 million a day for the industry—is going to airlines instead of the government.