The Internal Revenue Service says it may owe you hundreds or thousands of dollars, but your time is running out to claim it.
About 1.5 million taxpayers are owed refunds for 2019. To get the money, you need to file for the 2019 tax year by July 17.
“The IRS continues to urge people who may have overlooked filing during the pandemic to act quickly before they lose their final chance to claim a potentially substantial refund,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said.
The average, unclaimed refund is about $900, according to the IRS, but low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for more than $6,500 if their income qualifies them for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
More than $1.4 billion combined is owed in 2019 refunds.
Money is owed to residents in every state, with tends of thousands of taxpayers owed refunds in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and more.
If taxpayers don’t file and claim their refunds, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
How to get your IRS refund
To get your 2019 refund, you first have to file your taxes for that year.
You can find more information on irs.gov.
You can request missing documents from your employer, bank or entities that paid you money in 2019. You can also request a tax transcript on the IRS website that can help you get the needed information to file your 2019 taxes.
Eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit
Your 2019 refund may be higher if you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Here are the income thresholds:
- $50,162 ($55,952 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children
- $46,703 ($52,493 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children
- $41,094 ($46,884 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child
- $15,570 ($21,370 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children
