IRS YouTube Videos: Refund: Claim It or Lose It – English | Spanish | ASL (Obsolete) IR-2017-50, March 1, 2017 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that unclaimed federal income tax refunds totaling more than $1 billion may be waiting for an estimated 1 million taxpayers who did not file a 2013 federal income tax return. To collect the money, taxpayers must file a 2013 tax return with the IRS no later than this year's tax deadline, Tuesday, April 18. "We’re trying to connect a million people with their share of 1 billion dollars in unclaimed refunds for the 2013 tax year,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “People across the nation haven’t filed tax returns to claim these refunds, and their window of opportunity is closing soon. Students and many others may not realize they’re due a tax refund. Remember, there’s no penalty for filing a late return if you’re due a refund.” The IRS estimates the midpoint for potential refunds for 2013 to be $763; half of the refunds are more than $763 and half are less. In cases where a tax return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If they do not file a return within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2013 tax returns, the window closes April 18, 2017. The law requires taxpayers to properly address mail and postmark the tax return by that date. The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2013 refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2014 and 2015. 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 2013. Many low-and-moderate income workers may have been eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2013, the credit was worth as much as $6,044. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2013 were: $46,227 ($51,567 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children; $43,038 ($48,378 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children; $37,870 ($43,210 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and; $14,340 ($19,680 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children. Current and prior year tax forms (such as the Tax Year 2013 Form 1040, 1040-A and 1040-EZ) and instructions are available on the IRS.gov Forms and Publications page or by calling toll-free: 800- TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2013, 2014 or 2015 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their employer or other payer should go to IRS.gov and use the Get Transcript Online tool to obtain a Wage and Income transcript. Taxpayers can also file Form 4506-T to request a transcript of their 2013 income. A Wage and Income transcript shows data from information returns we receive such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information. Taxpayers can use the information on the transcript to file their tax return. State-by-state estimates of individuals who may be due 2013 tax refunds: State or District Estimated Number of Individuals Median Potential Refund Total Potential Refunds* Alabama 18,100 $729 $17,549,000 Alaska 4,700 $917 $5,665,000 Arizona 24,800 $650 $22,642,000 Arkansas 9,900 $722 $9,571,000 California 97,200 $696 $93,406,000 Colorado 20,200 $699 $19,454,000 Connecticut 11,500 $846 $12,691,000 Delaware 4,300 $776 $4,321,000 District of Columbia 3,200 $762 $3,341,000 Florida 66,900 $776 $67,758,000 Georgia 34,400 $671 $32,082,000 Hawaii 6,500 $793 $6,876,000 Idaho 4,500 $619 $3,919,000 Illinois 40,000 $834 $42,673,000 Indiana 21,700 $788 $22,060,000 Iowa 10,200 $808 $10,193,000 Kansas 11,100 $746 $10,700,000 Kentucky 12,900 $772 $12,627,000 Louisiana 20,300 $767 $21,209,000 Maine 4,000 $715 $3,645,000 Maryland 22,200 $770 $23,080,000 Massachusetts 23,000 $838 $24,950,000 Michigan 33,600 $763 $33,998,000 Minnesota 15,600 $691 $14,544,000 Mississippi 10,400 $702 $10,041,000 Missouri 22,400 $705 $20,787,000 Montana 3,600 $727 $3,480,000 Nebraska 5,300 $745 $5,084,000 Nevada 12,300 $753 $12,078,000 New Hampshire 4,400 $892 $4,930,000 New Jersey 29,900 $873 $33,207,000 New Mexico 8,100 $753 $8,162,000 New York 54,700 $847 $59,416,000 North Carolina 29,800 $656 $26,874,000 North Dakota 2,900 $888 $3,209,000 Ohio 36,000 $749 $34,547,000 Oklahoma 17,700 $773 $17,979,000 Oregon 15,500 $658 $14,188,000 Pennsylvania 39,400 $835 $41,078,000 Rhode Island 2,900 $796 $2,906,000 South Carolina 12,100 $674 $11,267,000 South Dakota 2,700 $823 $2,709,000 Tennessee 19,500 $743 $18,829,000 Texas 104,700 $829 $115,580,000 Utah 7,900 $667 $7,443,000 Vermont 2,000 $747 $1,859,000 Virginia 29,000 $752 $29,578,000 Washington 27,600 $829 $30,330,000 West Virginia 5,000 $855 $5,258,000 Wisconsin 12,700 $675 $11,619,000 Wyoming 2,800 $911 $3,189,000 Totals 1,042,100 $763 $1,054,581,000 * Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits. 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