Internal Revenue Service - Information Release
IR-2022-66
IRS has $1.5 billion in refunds for people who have not filed a 2018 federal income tax return; April deadline approaches   
March 25, 2022 
   
   
   
Media Relations Office
Washington, D.C.
www.IRS.gov/newsroom   
Media Contact: 202.317.4000   
Public Contact: 800.829.1040
   
 IRS has $1.5 billion in refunds for people who have not    
 filed a 2018 federal income tax return;    
 April deadline approaches      
   
IR-2022-66, March 25, 2022   
   
WASHINGTON -- Unclaimed income tax refunds totaling almost $1.5 billion may be waiting for an estimated 1.5 million taxpayers who did not file a 2018 Form 1040 federal income tax return, but people must act before the April tax deadline, according to the Internal Revenue Service.   
     
"The IRS wants to help people who are due refunds but haven't filed their 2018 tax returns yet," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "But people need to act quickly. By law, there's only a three-year window to claim these refunds, which closes with this year's April tax deadline. We want to help people get these refunds, but they need to file a 2018 tax return before this critical deadline."   
     
The IRS estimates the midpoint for the potential refunds for 2018 to be $813 -- that is, half of the refunds are more than $813 and half are less.   
     
In cases where a federal income tax return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity to claim a tax refund. If they do not file a tax return within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2018 tax returns, the window closes April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. Taxpayers living in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022. The law requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is postmarked by that date.   
     
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2018 tax refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020. 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 2018. Many low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2018, the credit was worth as much as $6,431. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2018 were:   
     
- $49,194 ($54,884 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children;   
- $45,802 ($51,492 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children;   
- $40,320 ($46,010 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child; and   
- $15,270 ($20,950 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.   
     
Tax year 2018 returns must be filed with the IRS center listed on the last page of the current Form 1040 instructions  PDF. Current and prior year tax forms (such as the tax year 2018 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 ). However, taxpayers can e-file tax year 2019 and later returns.   
     
Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2018, 2019 or 2020 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their employer or other payer can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the Get Transcript Online  tool. Alternatively, they can file Form 4506-T to request a wage and income transcript.   
     
A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns received by the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to file their tax return.   
   
State-by-state estimates of individuals who may be due   
2018 income tax refunds   
     
 State or District    
 Estimated Number of Individuals    
 Median Potential Refund    
 Total Potential Refunds   *      
Alabama   
24,474   
$796   
$23,028,940   
Alaska   
5,515   
$969   
$6,185,637   
Arizona   
38,182   
$718   
$33,577,964   
Arkansas   
13,727   
$762   
$12,567,925   
California   
148,938   
$776   
$139,660,163   
Colorado   
30,836   
$787   
$28,979,238   
Connecticut   
15,020   
$864   
$15,243,386   
Delaware   
5,764   
$793   
$5,486,810   
District of Columbia   
4,011   
$802   
$3,967,443   
Florida   
98,979   
$818   
$94,578,672   
Georgia   
51,034   
$735   
$46,467,229   
Hawaii   
8,199   
$873   
$8,317,290   
Idaho   
7,026   
$686   
$5,982,194   
Illinois   
55,767   
$840   
$54,850,831   
Indiana   
34,770   
$839   
$33,534,332   
Iowa   
14,843   
$840   
$14,255,896   
Kansas   
14,813   
$822   
$14,125,094   
Kentucky   
20,030   
$836   
$19,137,456   
Louisiana   
24,292   
$793   
$23,609,986   
Maine   
5,851   
$772   
$5,241,197   
Maryland   
30,224   
$814   
$29,637,361   
Massachusetts   
32,234   
$908   
$33,569,901   
Michigan   
49,252   
$812   
$47,228,525   
Minnesota   
22,685   
$771   
$20,920,613   
Mississippi   
13,007   
$730   
$11,753,943   
Missouri   
33,858   
$783   
$31,284,396   
Montana   
4,914   
$758   
$4,560,800   
Nebraska   
7,647   
$809   
$7,204,243   
Nevada   
17,919   
$792   
$16,896,077   
New Hampshire   
6,755   
$920   
$7,022,858   
New Jersey   
39,046   
$872   
$39,628,243   
New Mexico   
9,893   
$804   
$9,613,090   
New York   
77,315   
$896   
$79,825,137   
North Carolina   
50,069   
$776   
$45,990,818   
North Dakota   
4,011   
$893   
$4,139,793   
Ohio   
56,285   
$793   
$51,974,509   
Oklahoma   
21,529   
$824   
$21,075,857   
Oregon   
23,552   
$715   
$20,729,323   
Pennsylvania   
59,459   
$865   
$58,993,909   
Rhode Island   
4,011   
$893   
$4,099,614   
South Carolina   
18,063   
$720   
$16,288,951   
South Dakota   
3,872   
$858   
$3,718,677   
Tennessee   
30,693   
$788   
$28,459,178   
Texas   
145,616   
$856   
$147,059,248   
Utah   
11,644   
$757   
$10,648,614   
Vermont   
3,089   
$832   
$2,905,786   
Virginia   
41,663   
$776   
$39,285,545   
Washington   
42,272   
$863   
$43,022,251   
West Virginia   
6,968   
$880   
$7,146,354   
Wisconsin   
21,753   
$755   
$19,535,856   
Wyoming   
3,258   
$912   
$3,486,358   
Totals   
1,514,627   
$813   
$1,456,503,511   
     
* Excluding credits.