IR-2010-24, March 2, 2010
(Corrected March 4 to remove language on direct deposit.)
Washington — Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $1.3 billion are awaiting nearly 1.4 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2006, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2006 must be filed with the IRS no later than Thursday, April 15, 2010.
The IRS estimates that the median unclaimed refund for tax-year 2006 is $604.
Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.
For 2006 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2010. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund.
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2006 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2007 or 2008. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.
By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than refunds of taxes withheld or paid during 2006. For example, most telephone customers, including most cell-phone users, qualify for the one-time telephone excise tax refund. Available only on the 2006 return, this special payment applies to long-distance excise taxes paid on phone service billed from March 2003 through July 2006. The government offers a standard refund amount of $30 to $60, or taxpayers can base their refund request on the actual amount of tax paid. For details, see the Telephone Excise Tax Refund page on IRS.gov.
In addition, many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds, which in 2006 were $38,348 for those with two or more children, $34,001 for people with one child and $14,120 for those with no children. For more information, visit the EITC Home Page.
Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2006, 2007 or 2008 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. If these efforts are unsuccessful, taxpayers  can get a free transcript showing information from these year-end documents by calling 1-800-829-1040, or by filing Form 4506-TPDF, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, with the IRS.
Individuals Who Did Not File a 2006 Return with an Estimated Refund
 

 


Individuals


Median
Estimated
Refund


Total
Estimated
Refunds ($000)*


 
Alabama


21,800


$608


$18,839


 
Alaska


6,300


$693


$6,997


 
Arizona


39,900


$507


$33,921


 
Arkansas


11,800


$579


$10,543


 
California


159,700


$554


$150,640


 
Colorado


25,200


$531


$23,119


 
Connecticut


15,500


$686


$18,676


 
Delaware


5,200


$622


$5,297


 
District of Columbia


5,100


$601


$5,448


 
Florida


101,700


$641


$110,709


 
Georgia


45,700


$560


$42,642


 
Hawaii


9,500


$668


$10,658


 
Idaho


5,800


$482


$4,723


 
Illinois


51,400


$655


$54,740


 
Indiana


26,600


$641


$24,146


 
Iowa


12,200


$596


$9,990


 
Kansas


13,400


$586


$11,771


 
Kentucky


14,500


$610


$12,976


 
Louisiana


23,800


$641


$24,615


 
Maine


4,900


$561


$4,203


 
Maryland


30,800


$616


$29,938


 
Massachusetts


29,000


$669


$31,939


 
Michigan


42,800


$618


$40,790


 
Minnesota


18,900


$552


$16,227


 
Mississippi


11,800


$567


$10,120


 
Missouri


25,800


$561


$21,090


 
Montana


4,000


$530


$3,425


 
Nebraska


6,100


$590


$5,390


 
Nevada


19,400


$575


$19,163


 
New Hampshire


5,400


$706


$5,943


 
New Jersey


39,900


$666


$43,030


 
New Mexico


9,800


$560


$8,612


 
New York


76,700


$666


$87,563


 
North Carolina


39,100


$539


$32,919


 
North Dakota


2,100


$589


$1,875


 
Ohio


44,600


$593


$38,467


 
Oklahoma


18,200


$576


$15,779


 
Oregon


21,900


$490


$18,340


 
Pennsylvania


47,100


$652


$45,050


 
Rhode Island


4,300


$652


$4,231


 
South Carolina


16,400


$534


$13,810


 
South Dakota


2,500


$604


$2,193


 
Tennessee


22,200


$598


$19,756


 
Texas


109,600


$653


$114,720


 
Utah


9,200


$528


$9,592


 
Vermont


2,200


$565


$1,782


 
Virginia


40,600


$594


$39,460


 
Washington


37,100


$641


$39,713


 
West Virginia


4,800


$660


$4,775


 
Wisconsin


17,000


$564


$14,903


 
Wyoming


2,900


$691


$3,229


US Armed Forces


4,800


$821


$4,367


US Possessions & Territories


200


$887


$444


Totals


1,367,200


$604


$1,333,288

 
*Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits.