Filing for 2018 Refunds is Ending Soon

April 18, 2022 is the deadline for taxpayers to file their 2018 returns and get their refunds.

If a taxpayer doesn’t file their return, they usually have three years to file and claim their tax refund. If they don’t file within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

The IRS may hold refund checks if the taxpayer has not filed for 2019 and 2020. The IRS may also apply the refund to overdue state or federal tax bills or other state or federal debts, like child support and student loans.

When people don’t file a tax return, they can lose more than just their refund money. Many taxpayers are eligible for the earned income tax credit. This tax credit can reduce the tax they owe and increase the amount of their refund. It helps people and families whose incomes are less than a certain amount.

Taxpayers who are missing tax forms can access wage and income transcripts from their IRS Online Account under Tax Records. This transcript has the information sent to the IRS, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, Form 5498 and IRA contribution information. Taxpayers can use the information from the transcript to complete their tax forms. Alternatively, taxpayers can request copies from their employer, bank, or other payer.