Internal Revenue Service - Information Release
IR-2023-112
Time is running out: Taxpayers missing $1.5 billion in refunds for 2019 must file by July 17   
June 8, 2023 
   
   
   
Media Relations Office
Washington, D.C.
www.IRS.gov/newsroom   
Media Contact: 202.317.4000   
Public Contact: 800.829.1040
   
 Time is running out: Taxpayers missing $1.5 billion    
 in refunds for 2019 must file by July 17    
     
IR-2023-112, June 8, 2023   
   
WASHINGTON The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged nearly 1.5 million people across the nation to submit a tax return to claim their refunds for tax year 2019 by the July 17, 2023, deadline.   
     
The IRS estimates almost $1.5 billion in refunds remain unclaimed because people haven't filed their 2019 tax returns yet. Available data includes a special state-by-state estimate of how many people are potentially eligible for these refunds in each state and each state's median potential refund. The average median refund for tax year 2019 was $893.   
     
"Time is running out for more than a million people to get their tax refunds for 2019," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "Many people may have overlooked filing a 2019 tax return due to the pandemic. We don't want people to miss their window to receive their refund. We encourage people to check their records and act quickly before the deadline. The IRS has several important ways that people can get help."   
     
Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim their tax refunds. If they don't file within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.   
     
For 2019 tax returns, however, people have more time than usual to file to claim their refunds. Usually, the normal filing deadline to claim old refunds falls around the April tax deadline, which was April 18 this year for 2022 tax returns. But the three-year window for 2019 unfiled returns was postponed to July 17, 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. IRS Notice 2023-21, issued on Feb. 27, 2023, provided legal guidance on claims made by the postponed deadline. The law requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is postmarked by July 17, 2023.   
     
Taxpayers could lose more than just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2019. Many low- and moderate-income workers may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2019, the credit was worth as much as $6,557. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes were below certain thresholds in 2019. Those who are potentially eligible for EITC in 2019 had incomes below:   
     
- $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.   
     
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2019 tax refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021. 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.   
     
Current and prior-year tax forms  (such as the tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR) and instructions are available online on the IRS Forms, Instructions and Publications  page or by calling toll-free 800-TAX-FORM ( 800-829-3676 ).   
     
 Need to file a 2019 tax return? Several options to get key documents    
     
Although it's been several years since 2019, the IRS reminds taxpayers there are ways they can still gather the information they need to file this tax return. People should begin now to make sure they have enough time to file before the July deadline for 2019 refunds. Here are some options:   
     
 - Request copies of key documents: Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the years 2019, 2020 or 2021 can request copies from their employer, bank or other payers.   
     
 - Use Get Transcript Online at IRS.gov.    Taxpayers who are unable to get those missing forms from their employer or other payers can order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov using the Get Transcript Online  tool. For many taxpayers, this is by far the quickest and easiest option.   
     
 - Request a transcript.    Another option  is for people to file Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, with the IRS 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, 1099, 1098, Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to file their tax return. But plan ahead - these written requests can take several weeks; people are strongly urged to try the other options first.   
   
 State-by-state estimates of individuals who may be due 2019 income tax refunds    
   
Based on tax information currently available, the IRS estimated how many people in each state may be entitled to a tax refund. The actual refund amount will vary based on a household's tax situation.   
     
State or District       
Estimated   
Number of   
Individuals   
Median   
Potential   
Refund   
Total   
Potential   
Refunds *   
     
Alabama     
23,900     
$880     
$23,694,700     
Alaska     
6,000     
$917     
$6,542,300     
Arizona     
35,400     
$824     
$33,911,500     
Arkansas     
12,800     
$864     
$12,586,100     
California     
144,700     
$856     
$141,780,000     
Colorado     
30,100     
$859     
$29,514,000     
Connecticut     
15,400     
$934     
$16,198,400     
Delaware     
5,700     
$880     
$5,754,900     
District of Columbia     
4,400     
$887     
$4,550,100     
Florida     
89,300     
$893     
$89,530,400     
Georgia     
48,000     
$826     
$46,269,000     
Hawaii     
8,800     
$932     
$9,197,700     
Idaho     
7,600     
$758     
$6,996,000     
Illinois     
55,800     
$916     
$57,591,300     
Indiana     
31,700     
$916     
$32,115,100     
Iowa     
15,300     
$926     
$15,492,600     
Kansas     
14,600     
$913     
$14,753,700     
Kentucky     
18,600     
$906     
$18,574,200     
Louisiana     
22,000     
$877     
$22,274,800     
Maine     
6,400     
$876     
$6,197,300     
Maryland     
31,400     
$897     
$32,344,500     
Massachusetts     
35,700     
$966     
$38,400,900     
Michigan     
48,500     
$888     
$48,582,600     
Minnesota     
23,200     
$848     
$22,387,800     
Mississippi     
12,300     
$820     
$11,836,700     
Missouri     
31,800     
$880     
$31,345,700     
Montana     
5,200     
$854     
$5,144,900     
Nebraska     
7,800     
$893     
$7,745,600     
Nevada     
15,800     
$869     
$15,550,300     
New Hampshire     
6,900     
$974     
$7,451,800     
New Jersey     
40,500     
$924     
$42,035,900     
New Mexico     
9,600     
$867     
$9,522,400     
New York     
81,600     
$945     
$86,826,200     
North Carolina     
45,800     
$862     
$44,426,600     
North Dakota     
3,700     
$958     
$3,997,100     
Ohio     
51,800     
$868     
$50,234,900     
Oklahoma     
21,400     
$897     
$21,770,000     
Oregon     
23,700     
$801     
$22,348,900     
Pennsylvania     
56,000     
$924     
$57,572,600     
Rhode Island     
4,300     
$924     
$4,468,700     
South Carolina     
18,200     
$809     
$17,264,100     
South Dakota     
3,700     
$918     
$3,746,700     
Tennessee     
28,100     
$873     
$27,623,700     
Texas     
135,300     
$924     
$142,235,200     
Utah     
11,700     
$845     
$11,198,400     
Vermont     
3,100     
$901     
$3,036,600     
Virginia     
42,200     
$869     
$42,110,500     
Washington     
42,400     
$934     
$44,823,200     
West Virginia     
6,500     
$959     
$6,818,900     
Wisconsin     
21,000     
$834     
$20,003,100     
Wyoming     
3,300     
$949     
$3,534,800     
Totals     
1,469,000     
$893     
$1,479,913,400     
     
* Excluding credits.