The Arizona Department of Revenue is warning tax payers not to file their taxes until February. The delay is due to a federal tax change caused by the fiscal cliff debate from earlier this year.

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: The state revenue department says it will not process electronic returns until after Jan. 30. That’s because state electronic income tax returns are processed and accepted through the federal system first. The Internal Revenue Service announced last week that because of the tax law changes made by Congress under the American Taxpayer Relief Act, it will need time to update forms and complete programming and testing of its systems. Tempe based accountant Aaron Blau says the delay affects the people who need refunds the most.

AARON BLAU: The folks who make a lot of money, who anticipate owing, they were gonna be waiting ‘til April 15 to file their returns any way. This really just very disproportionately affects lower income tax payers.

ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: Blau says even paper tax returns will not be processed until after Jan. 30.