Overview
- The IRS, which issued a fresh alert Monday, estimates about 1.3 million people still have not claimed 2022 refunds worth roughly $1.2 billion and face a hard April 15, 2026 deadline.
- The typical unclaimed refund is $686, yet refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for 2022 could add up to $6,935 for eligible families.
- Filers missing W‑2s or 1099s should ask employers or banks for copies, use the IRS Get Transcript Online tool for wage and income data, or request a transcript by mail with Form 4506‑T, which can take weeks.
- The IRS can hold a 2022 refund if 2023 or 2024 returns are unfiled, and the Treasury Offset Program may apply any refund to debts like past‑due child support, unpaid taxes, unemployment overpayments, or certain student loans.
- State data show the largest unclaimed totals in California at about $124.7 million and in Texas at more than $111.7 million, with many states showing median refunds near or above $700.