Unclaimed income tax refunds worth nearly $1.5 billion await an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did not file a 2019 return.
The average median refund is $893. The deadline for claims is this July 17.
Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim their refunds; after that, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
"The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, in a statement. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, but time is running out."
The window for 2019 unfiled returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the pandemic and the deadline having been extended in 2020.
The IRS estimates that the midpoint for the potential 2019 refunds is $893, from high averages in New Hampshire ($974), Massachusetts ($966), West Virginia ($959) and North Dakota ($958) to low averages in Idaho ($758), South Carolina ($809), Arizona ($824) and Georgia ($826). The states with the most outstanding 2019 refunds are Texas, California, Florida and New York.
Taxpayers' checks may be held if they have not filed returns for 2020 and 2021. 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.
