Friday, March 25, 2022

IR-2022-66: RS has $1.5 billion in refunds for people who have not filed a 2018 federal income tax return; April deadline approaches

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IRS Newswire March 25, 2022

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Issue Number:    IR-2022-66

Inside This Issue


IRS has $1.5 billion in refunds for people who have not filed a 2018 federal income tax return; April deadline approaches

WASHINGTON ― Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

"The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 tax return before this critical deadline."

The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to be $813 — that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are less.

In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is postmarked by that date.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS or a state tax agency and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2018. Many low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:

  • $49,194 ($54,884 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;
  • $45,802 ($51,492 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;
  • $40,320 ($46,010 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child; and
  • $15,270 ($20,950 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.

Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current Form 1040 instructions. Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 Form 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov Forms and Publications page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.
 
Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the Get Transcript Online tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.

A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to file their tax return. 

State-by-state estimates of individuals who may be due 2018 income tax refunds

 

State or District

Estimated Number of Individuals

Median Potential Refund

Total Potential Refunds*

Alabama

24,474

$796

$23,028,940

Alaska

5,515

$969

$6,185,637

Arizona

38,182

$718

$33,577,964

Arkansas

13,727

$762

$12,567,925

California

148,938

$776

$139,660,163

Colorado

30,836

$787

$28,979,238

Connecticut

15,020

$864

$15,243,386

Delaware

5,764

$793

$5,486,810

District of Columbia

4,011

$802

$3,967,443

Florida

98,979

$818

$94,578,672

Georgia

51,034

$735

$46,467,229

Hawaii

8,199

$873

$8,317,290

Idaho

7,026

$686

$5,982,194

Illinois

55,767

$840

$54,850,831

Indiana

34,770

$839

$33,534,332

Iowa

14,843

$840

$14,255,896

Kansas

14,813

$822

$14,125,094

Kentucky

20,030

$836

$19,137,456

Louisiana

24,292

$793

$23,609,986

Maine

5,851

$772

$5,241,197

Maryland

30,224

$814

$29,637,361

Massachusetts

32,234

$908

$33,569,901

Michigan

49,252

$812

$47,228,525

Minnesota

22,685

$771

$20,920,613

Mississippi

13,007

$730

$11,753,943

Missouri

33,858

$783

$31,284,396

Montana

4,914

$758

$4,560,800

Nebraska

7,647

$809

$7,204,243

Nevada

17,919

$792

$16,896,077

New Hampshire

6,755

$920

$7,022,858

New Jersey

39,046

$872

$39,628,243

New Mexico

9,893

$804

$9,613,090

New York

77,315

$896

$79,825,137

North Carolina

50,069

$776

$45,990,818

North Dakota

4,011

$893

$4,139,793

Ohio

56,285

$793

$51,974,509

Oklahoma

21,529

$824

$21,075,857

Oregon

23,552

$715

$20,729,323

Pennsylvania

59,459

$865

$58,993,909

Rhode Island

4,011

$893

$4,099,614

South Carolina

18,063

$720

$16,288,951

South Dakota

3,872

$858

$3,718,677

Tennessee

30,693

$788

$28,459,178

Texas

145,616

$856

$147,059,248

Utah

11,644

$757

$10,648,614

Vermont

3,089

$832

$2,905,786

Virginia

41,663

$776

$39,285,545

Washington

42,272

$863

$43,022,251

West Virginia

6,968

$880

$7,146,354

Wisconsin

21,753

$755

$19,535,856

Wyoming

3,258

$912

$3,486,358

Totals

1,514,627

$813

$1,456,503,511

 

* Excluding credits.

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