Does Uncle Sam owe you? How to find out if you're entitled to a share of $1.5B in unclaimed tax refunds

These Americans need to make a claim by July 17, or risk losing their share.

Sean Locke Photography / Shutterstock

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By Amy Legate-Wolfe Jun. 01, 2023

This year’s federal tax deadline may have passed, but those who might be behind in their filings have until July 17 to collect unclaimed tax refunds from 2019. After that date, those funds will no longer be available.

How much is sitting on the table? There are currently 1.5 million Americans with unclaimed refunds from 2019 totaling about $1.5 billion, according to the IRS. The average median refund is $893.

"The 2019 tax returns came due during the pandemic, and many people may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds," IRS commissioner Danny Werfe said in a news release. "We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, but time is running out. People face a July 17 deadline to file their returns. We recommend taxpayers start soon to make sure they don't miss out."

Amid high inflation and interest rates, a nearly $1,000 refund is something many Americans could seriously use right now. And while the July 17 deadline might seem close, it’s actually an extension from normal circumstances.

Normally, the filing deadline to claim old refunds falls around the April tax deadline, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-year window for 2019 unfiled returns was extended until July 17, 2023.

It’s also more than just a tax refund those who didn’t file their 2019 returns may be missing out on. There are also tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), stated the IRS, which in 2019 was worth as much as $6,557.

How to collect the cash

So, are you one of the 1.5 million Americans who the IRS owes?

It’s quite easy to find out.

One option is to call the IRS directly so they can look into your file to discover whether the IRS has a balance owing for you.

You can also check online by logging in to your IRS account through their digital services. If you haven’t done this, the process is quite simple, and you can check your balance at any time.

Filing a 2019 tax return will require key documents that may not be easily accessible if you haven’t kept them on record. But the IRS has a few tips to help you get them.

If you’re missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2019, you can request copies from your employer, bank or other payers. If you’re unable to get the necessary forms, you can order a free wage and income transcript at the IRS website using the Get Transcript Online tool. The IRS notes this might be the quickest option.

Another option is to file Form 4506-T with the tax collector to request a wage and income transcript. But be prepared to wait, as written requests can take weeks to process. It’s highly recommended that you try the other options first, especially given the looming July 17 deadline.

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About the Author

Amy Legate-Wolfe

Freelance contributor

Amy Legate-Wolfe is an experienced personal finance writer and journalist. She has a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Toronto, a Freelance Writing Certificate in Journalism from the University of Toronto Schools, and a Master of Arts in Journalism from Western University. Amy has worked for Huffington Post, CTVNews.ca, CBC, Motley Fool Canada, and Financial Post. She is skilled at analyzing trends and creating content for digital and print platforms. In her free time, Amy enjoys reading and watching British dramas on BritBox. She is a mother and dog-mom to a Wheaten Terrier.

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