This video was published by the IRS.
Each year millions of taxpayers miss out on getting money. In many cases it’s several hundred dollars. Why? Because they were due a refund and they didn’t file a tax return. The time to claim the refund ran out.
If you don’t file a return claiming a refund within three years, you lose it and the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. That’s three years from the original due date, usually April 15.
Now, you must file a tax return if your income is above a certain amount. The amount varies depending on your filing status, age, and the type of income your receive. You may choose not to file if you don’t have to, but if you had even a small amount of income, you may be due a refund, especially if you had federal taxes withheld from your pay. Plus, you may be eligible for tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which could be a few thousand dollars.
The only way to claim this money is to file a Federal Income Tax Return. Get started by visiting www.irs.gov/unclaimedrefunds.