The IRS recently announced that approximately $1.2 billion in refunds from the 2022 tax year remain unclaimed. The deadline to file a 2022 return and collect your refund is April 15, 2026. After that date, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.
Why Refunds Go Unclaimed
There are several common reasons taxpayers miss out on refunds. Some individuals did not file a 2022 return because their income fell below the filing threshold, not realizing they were still owed money through refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. Others may have experienced life disruptions, changed addresses, or simply assumed they did not need to file.
Small business owners with irregular income are particularly susceptible. If your business had a down year in 2022, you may have skipped filing because you assumed you owed nothing. But if you made estimated tax payments, had withholding from a W-2 job, or qualified for credits, there could be money sitting with the IRS waiting for you to claim it.
The Three-Year Window
Federal law gives taxpayers three years from the original due date to file a return and claim a refund. For 2022 returns, the original due date was April 18, 2023, which makes April 15, 2026 the absolute cutoff. There are no extensions, no exceptions, and no appeals process once the window closes.
If you are owed a refund from 2022 but also have unfiled returns for 2023 or 2024, be aware that the IRS may hold your 2022 refund until all subsequent returns are filed. They may also apply it against any outstanding tax liabilities or other federal debts.
What You Should Do
If you did not file a 2022 federal tax return, gather your records and file as soon as possible. You can request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS (Form 4506-T or through your IRS online account) to reconstruct your income if you have lost your original documents. Many tax preparation software providers still support 2022 returns, and professional preparers can help if your situation is complex.
Do not leave money on the table. If you think you may be owed a refund for 2022, the cost of preparing and filing that return is almost certainly worth the effort.