Apr 1, 2026
Time is winding down for Americans to collect on the small fortune they’re owed in unpaid 2022 tax refunds. And once it strikes midnight on April 16, taxpayers will lose that money for good.
While most Americans are focused on getting their 2025 taxes done, the IRS says (1) it’s sitting on $1.2 billion in unclaimed refunds from 2022. The three-year grace period for filing tax returns means that, as of this April 15, any 2022 refunds return to the government coffers.
Over 1.3M Americans didn’t file in 2022
The IRS warned that over 1.3 million Americans failed to file their 2022 returns, resulting in the billion dollar refund backup. The median individual 2022 refund amounts to $686, they note, with California leading the nation with almost $125 million in overdue payouts. Texas follows with more than $111 million owed and Florida places third with upwards of $74 million owed to taxpayers.
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In addition, the government said the 2022 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), for lower and moderate-income workers who qualify, could add up to nearly $7,000 on top of the refund amount.
The EITC threshold starts at an annual individual salary of $16,480 — or $22,610 for a married couple who file jointly — without children who qualify. It can apply to individual salaries up to $53,057, and jointly filed salaries of $59,187, depending on the number of children who qualify.
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How to file your 2022 tax return
Americans who fail to file tax returns “miss out on an average refund of about $2,900,” according to H&R Block (2). And a 2025 TurboTax survey (3) found that a quarter of Americans procrastinate doing their taxes, while 27% claimed the process is “worse than getting a root canal.”
For those willing to endure the process to claim their piece of the $1.2 billion in 2022 refunds at stake, the IRS says you can request any missing W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 forms by:
- Visiting the “Get your tax records and transcripts” page on the official IRS website and submitting your request.
- Requesting the forms from your employer/former employer or bank.
- Filling out Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return (though the IRS recommends this as a last resort because it could take “several weeks” to process the request).
Taxpayers with disabilities, or those who make less than $69,000 or who have limited English-speaking capabilities, as well as anyone over 60 years old, may also qualify for either Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) — both free services provided by the IRS, which include in-person consultations.
The government warns that your 2022 tax refund could be garnished by the IRS to pay for any money owed to a state or federal government agency for debts such as unpaid child support or student loan payments. Additionally, those who failed to file tax returns for 2023 and 2024 may be ineligible for a 2022 tax refund.
For more information and individual forms, you can visit the IRS government website or call them at 800-829-3676.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
IRS (1); H&R Block (2); TurboTax (3)
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Mike Crisolago is a Sr. Staff Reporter at Moneywise with nearly 20 years of experience working as a journalist, editor, content strategist and podcast host. He specializes in personal finance writing related to the 50-plus demographic and retirement, as well as politics and lifestyle content.
