Haven’t Filed Your 2022 Return Yet? Kiss any Refund Goodbye if Not Filed by This April 15th

If you have not yet filed your 2022 tax return and have a refund coming, time to claim that refund is running out! The IRS annually estimates that more than a million taxpayers have not filed their tax returns for 3 years prior with approximately $1.5 billion of unclaimed refunds available for these delinquent taxpayers. If you fall in this category, you need to act quickly because the return must be filed by April 15, 2026, to claim a refund for 2022. Otherwise, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

People stand to lose more than a refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2022 by failing to file a return. For example, many low- and moderate-income workers who haven’t filed for 2022 may qualify to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable credit that provides financial assistance to individuals and families with incomes below certain thresholds. In addition, taxpayers may also qualify for the refundable portion of the child and education credits.

When filing a 2022 return, the law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed, and postmarked by April 15, 2026. There is no penalty for filing a late return that qualifies for a refund. If you’ll be filing your 2022 return soon, don’t just drop the return in your corner USPS mailbox on April 15, 2026, as it may not be postmarked by that date. Instead, either mail it a few days ahead or take it to the post office to be officially stamped by the 15th. Your late 2022 return cannot be e-filed.

As a reminder, taxpayers seeking a 2022 refund should know that their refunds will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.

Please give this office a call as soon as possible if you have not filed your 2022 return. Sufficient time is needed to prepare and print the return and for you to take it to the post office to send with proof of mailing.

 

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