From the desk of Michael T. McCormick
IRS Has Refunds Totaling $950 Million for People Who Have Not Filed a 2012 Federal Income Tax Return
The clock is ticking for those taxpayers that have refunds from their 2012 tax year. After April 18th those taxpayers will be barred from getting their money back! The Internal Revenue Service announced today that Federal income tax refunds totaling $950 million may be waiting for an estimated one million taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2012. To collect the money, these taxpayers must file a 2012 tax return with the IRS no later than this year’s April tax deadline.
“A surprising number of people across the country overlook claiming tax refunds each year. But the clock is ticking for taxpayers who didn’t file a 2012 federal income tax return, leaving nearly $1 billion in refunds unclaimed,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “We especially encourage students and others who didn’t earn much money to look into this situation because they may still be entitled to a refund. Don’t forget, there’s no penalty for filing a late return if you’re due a refund.”
The IRS estimates the midpoint for potential refunds for 2012 to be $718, with half being worth more than $718 and half being worth less.
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. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury. For 2012 tax returns, the window closes on April 18, 2016 (or April 19 for taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts). The law requires the tax return to be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date.
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2012 refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2013 and 2014. 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.
By failing to file a tax return, people stand to lose more than just their refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2012. Many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2012, the credit is worth as much as $5,891. The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds. The thresholds for 2012 were:
• $45,060 ($50,270 if married filing jointly) for those with three or more qualifying children,
• $41,952 ($47,162 if married filing jointly) for people with two qualifying children,
• $36,920 ($42,130 if married filing jointly) for those with one qualifying child, and
• $13,980 ($19,190 if married filing jointly) for people without qualifying children.
Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their employer or other payer should contact IRS or give us a call to sort out their situation. In Illinois alone there are 40,300 individuals who are owed $38,893,000. A staggering sum that will be forfeited to the government if not collected by the deadline. Make sure you get what you are owed!