IRS: More Than $1.2B in 2022 Refunds Still Unclaimed

An estimated 1.3 million people across the United States may still have unclaimed tax refunds from the 2022 tax year, totaling roughly $1.2 billion. According to the Internal Revenue Service, individuals who did not submit a federal tax return for 2022 have until April 15 to file and claim that money.

The IRS says the typical refund for those who have not yet filed is about $686, though many could receive more. In addition to standard refunds, some taxpayers may also qualify for credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. For families with qualifying children in 2022, that credit could have been worth as much as $6,935.

Federal law allows taxpayers a three-year window to file a return and collect any refund they are owed. Once that deadline passes, any unclaimed funds are permanently transferred to the U.S. Treasury.

States with the largest number of people who have not filed returns—and the largest total amount of unclaimed refunds—include California and Texas. Meanwhile, Massachusetts and Hawaii have the highest median refund amounts among those still unclaimed.

The IRS advises taxpayers who are missing records to use its “Get Transcript Online” service or submit Form 4506-T to obtain copies of prior tax documents. Previous years’ tax forms can also be downloaded directly from the IRS website.

Even if someone is owed a refund from 2022, the payment may be applied to outstanding obligations before being issued. This can include unpaid federal or state taxes, child support, student loan debt, or other federal liabilities.

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