Claim deadline for $1.2B in tax refunds from 2022 nearing, IRS warns

(NEXSTAR) – An estimated $1.2 billion in federal tax refunds remain unclaimed for tax year 2022, and the deadline for taxpayers to collect is fast-approaching, the IRS has warned.

The funds are estimated to belong to over 1.3 million people who did not file their federal income tax return in 2023 (for the 2022 tax year). The estimated median refund is $686, meaning half the refunds are worth even more.

That doesn’t account for the additional tax credits filers may have qualified for in the 2022 tax year, like the Earned Income Tax Credit. At the time, the credit was worth up to $6,935 for tax filers with qualifying children.

IRS data shows California (143,200) and Texas (126,000) have the most individuals who have yet to file their 2022 taxes, totalling roughly $124.7 million and $111.7 million in unclaimed refunds, respectively. The median unclaimed refunds are highest in Massachusetts at $786, followed closely by $784 in Hawaii.

The interactive map below shows the median potential tax refund by state, as well as the estimated number of residents who have yet to file their 2022 taxes and the state’s sum of unclaimed refunds for the tax year.

According to the IRS, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim their refund. Left unclaimed, the funds go to the U.S. Treasury.

If you believe you’re owed a refund for tax year 2022, the IRS recommends tracking down copies of the documents you may need, using its Get Transcript Online tool, or completing a Form 4506-T to get the information you need to file. The IRS says tax forms for previous years can also be found online.

You have until April 15 to submit your tax return.

Even if you are owed a tax refund in 2022, it may be withheld if you haven’t filed your 2023 and 2024 tax returns or used to pay amounts you owe the IRS or state agencies. It may also be used for unpaid child support, student loan debt, or other overdue federal debts.

If you want to receive any tax return as fast as possible and without a temporary freeze, the IRS recommends including your direct deposit information.

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