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RALEIGH -- State Senate minority leader Phil Berger said what's fair is fair. He filed a bill this week aimed at making sure the state is more speedy in handing out tax returns.

This comes after two years in a row where the Department of Revenue is slow to make the mailings. Berger said if the tables were turned, taxpayers would face some sort of fine.

“If they were late making their payments, the state would be charging them a penalty and interest and all that sort of thing,” said Berger. “Well all the bill says is if the state is more than 45 days after the return has been sent in, in sending the refund, then the state is going to pay a penalty and the state is going to pay interest.”

The Department of Revenue said it has paid more than 90 percent of this year's refunds already and has $222 million left to pay out.

If any payment is not made by May 30, the state will pay interest at a rate of five percent annually.