In a new nationwide survey conducted by TheStreet 's MainStreet.com site and GfK¹ over 20% of Americans are concerned there could be a problem in obtaining tax forms and 31% feared a delay in receiving a refund due to the sequestration brought about by the budget cuts that began on March 1, 2013.

"I don't think many people really understand how their lives are impacted," says Kit Yarrow , consumer research psychologist and professor at Golden Gate University. "Already trust in the government is abysmal, and I think it's been compounded by the politicizing and lack of clarity about the ramifications of the sequester."

Read Ross Kenneth Urken , MainStreet's personal finance editor, analysis of the survey featuring expert commentary here.

Key survey findings:

• One in five Americans (18%) have perennial fears of an IRS audit
• Of the 14% of Americans who claim to have filed taxes late, 32% of those say it was due to disorganization 29% due to an untimely emergency or unforeseen complication right at tax time and almost 29% due to procrastination
• If Americans received an unexpected large tax return, 30% would save or invest it, almost 27% would put it in an emergency fund for unexpected problems related to health or employment and 17% would use it for home improvement projects or new furnishings

For a complete look at the results, view the accompanying infographic.