Can You Check for Unclaimed Tax Refunds?
The IRS puts a limit on the time in which you can claim a refund for the over-payment of tax. However, you can't check if you have a refund due to you until you complete a tax return. To amend a prior year return to claim any overpaid taxes, you have three years from the date you filed it. If you didn't file a tax return, then you have two years to submit one in order to claim a refund that you are owed.
Key Takeaways
- You can't check to see if you have a refund due to you until you file a tax return for the year in question.
- Filing a complete tax return is the only way to claim a refund.
- If you didn't file a tax return for the year in question, then you have two years to submit one to claim a refund that you are owed.
- If you filed a return but it's incorrect, you have three years from the date you filed it to file an amended tax return and claim any overpaid taxes.
Can I claim tax refunds on unfiled returns?
Filing a complete tax return is the only way to make a valid refund claim. If the refund relates to a tax year when you don’t file a return, you have to file an original tax return within two years of paying the tax. The IRS starts the two-year period on the filing deadline that immediately follows the relevant tax year.
For example, if your employer withheld federal income tax from your wages during calendar year 2024, the IRS:
- considers the tax paid on April 15, 2025
- would have allowed you to file a valid refund claim until April 15, 2027
However, the IRS won’t issue a full refund if it exceeds the total amount of tax you paid in the two years immediately preceding the date you claim the refund.
How long do I have to claim refunds on amended returns?
The three-year period applies to taxpayers who file the original tax return on time but later discover an error that should have given them a lower tax liability for that year. To initiate a refund claim, you have to file an amended tax return.
- The three-year period begins on filing deadline in the year immediately following the close of the relevant tax year.
- This includes any extension of time to file the IRS grants you.
To illustrate, if for the 2024 tax year you:
- filed an automatic six-month extension
- filed the original return on October 15, 2024
- you would have had to file the amended return by Oct. 15, 2027, to obtain a fund
TurboTax Tip:
The IRS can suspend the limitation period for filing or amending your taxes if a physical or mental impairment renders you incapable of managing your personal financial affairs.
What if I miss the window for a tax refund because of a disability?
The IRS can suspend the limitation period during times when a physical or mental impairment renders you incapable of managing your personal financial affairs.
To qualify, the impairment has to meet one of the following:
- has to last or be expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months
- potentially result in death
You have to provide the IRS with a written statement from your physician attesting to the seriousness of the impairment. The IRS will extend the standard limitation period by the amount of time you suffer from the impairment.
Can I still file a tax refund if the IRS extends their assessment period past the due date?
The standard time limitation on claiming a tax refund does not apply if the IRS extends the assessment period for the relevant tax year. Generally, the IRS has three years from the time you actually file the tax return to examine it and assess additional taxes.
In some cases, the IRS may ask the taxpayer to sign an agreement extending this period. When that happens, you receive an additional six months in which you may file a valid refund claim for the relevant tax year. The six-month extension begins on the date the extended assessment period expires regardless of whether you agree to a one-year or 20-year extension.
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