More than $1.1 Billion in Tax Refunds Still Unclaimed

Refunds totaling more than $1.1 billion may be waiting for nearly 1.1 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2007, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

To collect the money, a return for 2007 must be filed with the IRS no later than Monday, April 18, 2011. The IRS estimates that half of these potential 2007 refunds are for $640 or more.

Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments, the IRS noted. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

For 2007 returns, the window closes on April 18, 2011. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. The IRS reminded taxpayers seeking a 2007 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2008 and 2009. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS, and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.

By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than a refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2007. In addition, many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit, the IRS noted. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds, which in 2007 were $39,783 for those with two or more children, $35,241 for people with one child, and $14,590 for those with no children. For more information, visit the EITC Home Page.

The IRS provided a table showing the number of individuals and potential refunds, state by state:

 

 

Individuals Who Did Not File a 2007 Return with a Potential Refund

State

Individuals

Median Potential

Refund*

Total Potential Refunds ($000)*

Alabama

17,600

$634

$15,649

Alaska

5,200

$688

$6,545

Arizona

31,000

$543

$29,217

Arkansas

9,100

$606

$8,111

California

124,000

$597

$129,205

Colorado

20,900

$588

$21,591

Connecticut

11,900

$714

$14,769

Delaware

4,000

$658

$4,121

District of Columbia

4,400

$629

$4,751

Florida

74,500

$665

$87,293

Georgia

36,800

$590

$35,475

Hawaii

7,600

$717

$8,960

Idaho

4,600

$540

$4,340

Illinois

38,800

$692

$44,168

Indiana

20,200

$679

$19,864

Iowa

9,500

$668

$8,411

Kansas

10,400

$621

$9,601

Kentucky

11,200

$660

$10,449

Louisiana

19,500

$663

$20,327

Maine

3,600

$606

$3,398

Maryland

25,100

$645

$27,727

Massachusetts

23,000

$701

$26,881

Michigan

30,800

$663

$31,943

Minnesota

14,000

$604

$13,786

Mississippi

9,400

$585

$8,440

Missouri

20,300

$604

$18,588

Montana

3,400

$607

$3,185

Nebraska

4,700

$620

$4,509

Nevada

15,000

$630

$15,575

New Hampshire

3,900

$741

$4,960

New Jersey

31,000

$705

$36,504

New Mexico

7,900

$594

$7,510

New York

62,600

$706

$78,405

North Carolina

29,300

$565

$26,385

North Dakota

1,600

$635

$1,877

Ohio

33,200

$620

$30,240

Oklahoma

15,200

$620

$14,280

Oregon

17,600

$521

$15,309

Pennsylvania

34,600

$686

$35,317

Rhode Island

3,100

$644

$3,380

South Carolina

12,400

$561

$11,132

South Dakota

2,000

$639

$1,937

Tennessee

17,200

$633

$17,049

Texas

91,700

$692

$104,801

Utah

7,600

$560

$8,392

Vermont

1,700

$672

$1,694

Virginia

29,800

$629

$31,380

Washington

28,200

$702

$34,692

West Virginia

3,500

$686

$3,484

Wisconsin

12,900

$593

$11,609

Wyoming

2,700

$788

$3,350

Grand Total

1,060,200

$640

$1,120,566

* Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits.

 

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