How to claim a tax refund you never filed for

Every year more than a million people who had tax taken out of their pay never file a return, so they never get the refund. For the 2022 tax year alone, the IRS estimated about $1.2 billion went unclaimed, with a typical refund of $686. You get three years to claim it, and then it's gone.

The three-year rule

You generally have three years from a return's original due date to file it and get your refund.
After that, the money becomes the Treasury's for good.
The next deadline: refunds for the 2023 tax year must be claimed by April 15, 2027.

Who's most likely to be owed

Students and part-time or seasonal workers who earned too little to have to file.
Anyone who had tax withheld from a job they left partway through the year.
Lower-income workers who may also qualify for credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can be worth thousands and is only paid if you file.

How to file a late return

Get the tax forms for the year you missed from IRS.gov. Prior-year forms are there too.
Missing a W-2? Request a free wage and income transcript from the IRS through Get Transcript.
File the return. You can track it with Where's My Refund?

Two catches

The IRS can hold an old refund if you haven't filed for later years too.
A refund can be used to pay back taxes, child support or other federal debts such as student loans.

Taxpayer Treasures is an independent guide, not tax advice, and isn't affiliated with the IRS. Check IRS.gov or a tax professional for your situation.