The Internal Revenue Service said it has federal income tax refunds totaling $1 billion waiting for an estimated 1 million taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2011.
To collect the money, these taxpayers must file a 2011 tax return with the IRS no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
"Time is running out for people who didn’t file a 2011 federal income tax return to claim their refund," said IRS commissioner John Koskinen in a statement. "People could be missing out on a substantial refund, especially students or part-time workers. Some people may not have filed because they didn’t make much money, but they may still be entitled to a refund.”
The IRS estimated that half of the potential refunds for 2011 are more than $698. In cases where a tax return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. For 2011 tax returns, the window closes on April 15, 2015. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.
The law requires the tax return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return that qualifies for a refund.
The IRS also reminded taxpayers who are seeking a 2011 refund that their checks could be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2012 and 2013. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS, or their state tax agency, and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.
The IRS also provided a state-by-state breakdown of the number of individuals who did not file a 2011 return along with the average potential refund amount for that state:
State or District | Estimated Number of Individuals | Median Potential Refund | Total Potential Refunds* |
Alabama | 19,900 | $693 | $17,794,000 |
Alaska | 5,300 | $795 | $5,703,000 |
Arizona | 27,700 | $618 | $23,649,000 |
Arkansas | 10,600 | $678 | $9,371,000 |
California | 103,700 | $627 | $92,209,000 |
Colorado | 21,100 | $668 | $19,258,000 |
Connecticut | 13,400 | $777 | $13,415,000 |
Delaware | 4,800 | $726 | $4,579,000 |
District of Columbia | 3,900 | $736 | $3,812,000 |
Florida | 67,500 | $720 | $64,106,000 |
Georgia | 36,200 | $628 | $31,250,000 |
Hawaii | 7,100 | $742 | $6,842,000 |
Idaho | 4,700 | $595 | $3,838,000 |
Illinois | 44,000 | $763 | $43,177,000 |
Indiana | 23,900 | $732 | $22,135,000 |
Iowa | 11,100 | $719 | $10,128,000 |
Kansas | 11,600 | $667 | $10,421,000 |
Kentucky | 14,300 | $736 | $12,935,000 |
Louisiana | 22,000 | $693 | $21,432,000 |
Maine | 4,500 | $645 | $3,748,000 |
Maryland | 25,000 | $694 | $23,628,000 |
Massachusetts | 25,800 | $736 | $25,005,000 |
Michigan | 36,200 | $721 | $34,254,000 |
Minnesota | 16,500 | $632 | $14,148,000 |
Mississippi | 11,100 | $629 | $9,625,000 |
Missouri | 23,600 | $655 | $20,378,000 |
Montana | 3,700 | $676 | $3,381,000 |
Nebraska | 5,700 | $683 | $5,108,000 |
Nevada | 13,300 | $702 | $12,185,000 |
New Hampshire | 4,600 | $775 | $4,518,000 |
New Jersey | 34,200 | $780 | $34,520,000 |
New Mexico | 8,500 | $688 | $7,799,000 |
New York | 63,400 | $765 | $62,809,000 |
North Carolina | 31,700 | $595 | $26,248,000 |
North Dakota | 2,600 | $761 | $2,591,000 |
Ohio | 39,600 | $699 | $35,218,000 |
Oklahoma | 19,300 | $707 | $17,988,000 |
Oregon | 17,500 | $598 | $14,262,000 |
Pennsylvania | 44,000 | $770 | $42,228,000 |
Rhode Island | 3,400 | $748 | $3,270,000 |
South Carolina | 13,200 | $609 | $11,160,000 |
South Dakota | 2,600 | $732 | $2,480,000 |
Tennessee | 20,700 | $690 | $18,630,000 |
Texas | 101,800 | $743 | $103,164,000 |
Utah | 8,000 | $610 | $6,944,000 |
Vermont | 2,100 | $707 | $1,921,000 |
Virginia | 32,100 | $685 | $29,647,000 |
Washington | 28,400 | $750 | $28,705,000 |
West Virginia | 5,100 | $784 | $5,023,000 |
Wisconsin | 14,100 | $621 | $11,953,000 |
Wyoming | 2,800 | $835 | $2,984,000 |
Totals | 1,117,900 | $698 | $1,041,576,000 |
* Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits
