IRS Presents:IRS Has $1.3 Billion for People Who Have Not Filed a 2006 Tax Return

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

Videos:

Haven’t Filed a Tax Return in Years?: English | Spanish | ASL

Washington — Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $1.3 billion are awaiting nearly 1.4 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2006, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2006 must be filed with the IRS no later than Thursday, April 15, 2010.

The IRS estimates that the median unclaimed refund for tax-year 2006 is $604.

Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a 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 the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

For 2006 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2010. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. Though back-year tax returns cannot be filed electronically, taxpayers can still speed up their refunds by choosing to have them deposited directly into a checking or savings account.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2006 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2007 or 2008. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.

By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than refunds of taxes withheld or paid during 2006. For example, most telephone customers, including most cell-phone users, qualify for the one-time telephone excise tax refund. Available only on the 2006 return, this special payment applies to long-distance excise taxes paid on phone service billed from March 2003 through July 2006. The government offers a standard refund amount of $30 to $60, or taxpayers can base their refund request on the actual amount of tax paid. For details, see the Telephone Excise Tax Refund page on IRS.gov.

In addition, many low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds, which in 2006 were $38,348 for those with two or more children, $34,001 for people with one child and $14,120 for those with no children. For more information, visit the EITC Home Page.

Current and prior year  tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2006, 2007 or 2008 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. If these efforts are unsuccessful, taxpayers  can get a free transcript showing information from these year-end documents by calling 1-800-829-1040, or by filing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, with the IRS.

Individuals Who Did Not File a 2006 Return with an Estimated Refund

  Individuals Median

Estimated

Refund

 Total

Estimated

Refunds ($000)*
 

Alabama

 21,800 $608 $18,839
 

Alaska

 6,300 $693 $6,997
 

Arizona

 39,900 $507 $33,921
 

Arkansas

 11,800 $579 $10,543
 

California

 159,700 $554 $150,640
 

Colorado

 25,200 $531 $23,119
 

Connecticut

 15,500 $686 $18,676
 

Delaware

 5,200 $622 $5,297
 

District of Columbia

 5,100 $601 $5,448
 

Florida

 101,700 $641 $110,709
 

Georgia

 45,700 $560 $42,642
 

Hawaii

 9,500 $668 $10,658
 

Idaho

 5,800 $482 $4,723
 

Illinois

 51,400 $655 $54,740
 

Indiana

 26,600 $641 $24,146
 

Iowa

 12,200 $596 $9,990
 

Kansas

 13,400 $586 $11,771
 

Kentucky

 14,500 $610 $12,976
 

Louisiana

 23,800 $641 $24,615
 

Maine

 4,900 $561 $4,203
 

Maryland

 30,800 $616 $29,938
 

Massachusetts

 29,000 $669 $31,939
 

Michigan

 42,800 $618 $40,790
 

Minnesota

 18,900 $552 $16,227
 

Mississippi

 11,800 $567 $10,120
 

Missouri

 25,800 $561 $21,090
 

Montana

 4,000 $530 $3,425
 

Nebraska

 6,100 $590 $5,390
 

Nevada

 19,400 $575 $19,163
 

New Hampshire

 5,400 $706 $5,943
 

New Jersey

 39,900 $666 $43,030
 

New Mexico

 9,800 $560 $8,612
 

New York

 76,700 $666 $87,563
 

North Carolina

 39,100 $539 $32,919
 

North Dakota

 2,100 $589 $1,875
 

Ohio

 44,600 $593 $38,467
 

Oklahoma

 18,200 $576 $15,779
 

Oregon

 21,900 $490 $18,340
 

Pennsylvania

 47,100 $652 $45,050
 

Rhode Island

 4,300 $652 $4,231
 

South Carolina

 16,400 $534 $13,810
 

South Dakota

 2,500 $604 $2,193
 

Tennessee

 22,200 $598 $19,756
 

Texas

 109,600 $653 $114,720
 

Utah

 9,200 $528 $9,592
 

Vermont

 2,200 $565 $1,782
 

Virginia

 40,600 $594 $39,460
 

Washington

 37,100 $641 $39,713
 

West Virginia

 4,800 $660 $4,775
 

Wisconsin

 17,000 $564 $14,903
 

Wyoming

 2,900 $691 $3,229
US Armed Forces 4,800 $821 $4,367
US Possessions & Territories 200 $887 $444
Totals 1,367,200 $604 $1,333,288

*Excluding the Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits.

Filed under: IRS, IRS PRESENTS, REFUND | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

IRS Presents:Seven Things You Should Know About Checking the Status of Your Refund

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

Are you expecting a tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service this year? If so, here are seven things you should know about checking the status of your refund once you have filed your federal tax return.

1. Online Access to Refund Information Where’s My Refund? or ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? are interactive tools on IRS.gov and the fastest, easiest way to get information about your federal income tax refund. Whether you split your refund among several accounts, opted for direct deposit into one account, used part of your refund to buy U.S. savings bonds or asked the IRS to mail you a check, Where’s My Refund? and ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? give you online access to your refund information nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s quick, easy and secure.

2. When to Check Refund Status If you e-file, you can get refund information 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of your return. If you file a paper return, refund information will generally be available three to four weeks after mailing your return. 

3. What You Need to Check Refund Status When checking the status of your refund, have your federal tax return handy. To get your personalized refund information you must enter:

  • Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Your filing status which will be Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er)
  • Exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your tax return

4. What the Online Tool Will Tell You Once you enter your personal information, you could get several responses, including:

  • Acknowledgement that your return was received and is in processing.
  • The mailing date or direct deposit date of your refund.
  • Notice that the IRS could not deliver your refund due to an incorrect address. In this instance, you may be able to change or correct your address online using Where’s My Refund?.

5. Customized Information Where’s My Refund? also includes links to customized information based on your specific situation. The links guide you through the steps to resolve any issues affecting your refund.  For example, if you do not get the refund within 28 days from the original IRS mailing date shown on Where’s My Refund?, you may be able to start a refund trace.

6. Visually Impaired Taxpayers Where’s My Refund? is also accessible to visually impaired taxpayers who use the Job Access with Speech screen reader used with a Braille display and is compatible with different JAWS modes.

7. Toll-free Number If you do not have internet access, you can check the status of your refund in English or Spanish by calling the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954 or the IRS TeleTax System at 800-829-4477. When calling, you must provide your or your spouse’s Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your return.

Refund checks are normally sent out weekly on Fridays. If you check the status of your refund and are not given the date it will be issued, please wait until the next week before checking back.

Links:

Filed under: FILING YOUR TAX RETURN, IRS, IRS PRESENTS, REFUND | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Is the IRS Looking For You? Might Be a Good Thing.

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

Listen to an Audio File for Podcast Watch Video: Undelivered Refunds Watch Video: Track Your Refund

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is looking for taxpayers who are due to receive a combined $123.5 million in the form of 107,831 refund checks that were returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors.

“We are eager to get this money into the hands of taxpayers, so don’t delay if you think you are missing a refund,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “The sooner you update your address information, the quicker you can get your refund.”

All a taxpayer has to do is update his or her address once. The IRS will then send out all checks due. Undeliverable refund checks average $1,148 this year, compared to $990 last year. Some taxpayers are due more than one check.

Average undeliverable refunds rose by 16 percent this year, which is in line with the 16 percent rise in average refunds for all tax returns in the latest filing season. Several changes in tax law likely played a role in boosting refunds, including the First-Time Homebuyer’s Credit and the Recovery Rebate Credit, among others.

The vast majority of checks mailed out by the IRS each year reach their rightful owner. Only a very small percent are returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable.

If a refund check is returned to the IRS as undeliverable, taxpayers can generally update their addresses with the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. The tool enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2008 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and in some cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.
Taxpayers checking on a refund over the phone will be given instructions on how to update their addresses. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

The IRS encourages taxpayers to choose direct deposit when they file their returns because it puts an end to lost, stolen or undeliverable checks. Taxpayers can receive refunds directly into personal checking or savings accounts. Direct deposit is available for filers of both paper and electronic returns.

The IRS also encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically because e-file eliminates the risk of lost paper returns. E-file also reduces errors on tax returns and speeds up refunds.

E-file coupled with direct deposit is your best option; it’s easy, fast and safe.

Filed under: FILING YOUR TAX RETURN, IRS PATROL, QUICK REFUND, REFUND | Leave a Comment »

Incredibly Large Refund – Oops IRS Mistake

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

Be sure to two step on over to Kay Bell’s blog Don’t Mess With Taxes and read about the $122,000 erroneous tax refund received by an employee of Sunshine Maids.

Filed under: REFUND | Leave a Comment »

Information About Your Tax Refund

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

Are you expecting a refund from the IRS this year? Here are the top ten things you should know about your refund.
Refund Options
You have two options for receiving your individual federal income tax refund: a paper check or a direct deposit.
Separate Accounts
You may use Form 8888, Direct Deposit of Refund to More Than One Account, to request that your refund be allocated by direct deposit among up to three separate accounts, such as checking or savings or retirement accounts.
Paper Return Processing Time
If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund will usually be issued within six weeks from the received date.
Returns Filed Electronically
If you filed electronically, your refund will normally be issued within three weeks after the acknowledgment date.
Check the Status Online
The fastest and easiest way to find out about your current year refund is to go to the IRS.gov Web site and click on the “Where’s My Refund?” link available from the home page. You will need your Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund to check the status online.
Check the Status By Phone Call the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829–1954.
When you call, you will need to provide your Social Security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of the refund shown on your return.
Delayed Refund
There are several reasons for delayed refunds. For things that may delay the processing of your return, refer to Tax Topic 303 on IRS.gov, which includes a Checklist of Common Errors When Preparing Your Tax Return.
Larger than Expected Refund
If you receive a refund to which you are not entitled, or one for an amount that is more than you expected, do not cash the check until you receive a notice explaining the difference. Follow the instructions on the notice.
Smaller than Expected Refund
If you receive a refund for a smaller amount than you expected, you may cash the check, and, if it is determined that you should have received more, you will later receive a check for the difference. If you did not receive a notice and you have questions about the amount of your refund, wait two weeks after receiving the refund, then call 800–829–1040.
Missing Refund
The IRS will assist you in obtaining a replacement check for a refund check that is verified as lost or stolen. If the IRS was unable to deliver your refund because you moved, you can change your address online. Once your address has been changed, the IRS can reissue the undelivered check. For more information, visit IRS.gov or call 800-829-1040.
Links:
Where’s My Refund?
Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund (PDF 62K)
Tax Topic 152 — Refunds
Frequently Asked Questions

Filed under: REFUND | Leave a Comment »

2007 Tax Refund News

Posted on February 2, 2008 by Stacie Clifford Kitts

IRS Has $110 Million in Refund Checks Looking for a Home

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 115,478 taxpayers who are due refund checks worth about $110 million after the checks were returned as undeliverable.

The refund checks, averaging about $953, can be claimed as soon as taxpayers update their addresses with the IRS. Some taxpayers have more than one check waiting.
“Taxpayers should not miss out on getting their money back,” said Richard Morgante, commissioner of the IRS Wage and Investment Division. ”The IRS makes it as easy as possible for taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds.”

The “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2006 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and in some cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.

Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

Most Refunds

The number of undeliverable refunds each year is a relatively small portion of all refunds returned to taxpayers. So far in 2007, the IRS has processed nearly 105 million refunds, totaling about $240 billion, either by mail or direct deposit.

In fact, undeliverable refunds account for less than one-tenth of one percent of all refunds, or about one in a thousand.

A refund check is normally returned as undeliverable when a taxpayer moves without updating his or her address with either the U.S. Postal Service or the IRS.

Telephone Tax Refund

The list of taxpayers due undeliverable refunds this year rose about 21 percent from 95,746 last year. The sharp increase is due in part to the Telephone Excise Tax Refund. The refund is a one-time payment available on 2006 federal income tax returns. It was designed to return to taxpayers previously collected long-distance telephone taxes. Individuals, businesses and tax-exempt organizations are eligible to request it.

Updating Your Address

Refund checks are mailed to a taxpayer’s last known address. Checks are returned to the IRS if a taxpayer moves without notifying the IRS or the U.S. Postal Service.
Taxpayers can update their addresses with the IRS on the “Where’s My Refund?” feature. Also, taxpayers checking on a refund will be prompted to provide an updated address if there is an undelivered check outstanding within the last 12 months. Taxpayers checking on a refund over the phone will be given instructions on how to update their addresses.

A taxpayer can also ensure the IRS has his or her correct address by filing Form 8822, Change of Address. Download the form from IRS.gov or request it by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

Those who do not have access to the Internet and think they may be missing a refund should first check their records or contact their tax preparer, then call the IRS toll-free assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 to update their address.

Direct Deposit Can Stop Lost Refunds

Signing up for Direct Deposit can put an end to undelivered refunds, as well lost or stolen refund checks. Taxpayers can receive refunds directly into personal checking or savings accounts. Direct Deposit is available for filers of both paper and electronic returns. Taxpayers can sign up for direct deposit on their tax form.

Links:
Want to hear more? Listen to an IRS interview on Undelivered Refunds
Where’s My Refund?
IRS Change of Address, Form 8822

Filed under: REFUND | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 569 other followers

%d bloggers like this: