Infographic showing the April 15 IRS filing deadline with a 1040 refund form and reminder that unclaimed refunds equal lost money.
Don’t Throw Away Free Money — Billions in IRS Refunds Go Unclaimed Every Year
Do you love paying taxes? Of course not. Nobody does. Nonetheless, here’s what’s even worse: thousands of Americans throw away refunds that are rightfully theirs — simply because they don’t file their returns.
According to the IRS, as of March 11, 2025, taxpayers forfeited more than $1 billion in refunds for tax year 2021 alone. That money didn’t go back to families who needed it most — it just disappeared.
The 3-Year Rule on IRS Tax Refunds
Most taxpayers don’t realize this: you only have three years from the original due date to claim a refund.
April 15 is the usual deadline.
If you filed an extension, October 15 is the latest filing date.
After that window closes, your refund is gone forever.
So as of 2025, here’s what’s still open:
- Tax Year 2021 returns — claim by October 15, 2025
- Tax Year 2022 returns — claim by April 15, 2026
- Tax Year 2023 returns — claim by April 15, 2027
- Tax Year 2024 returns — claim by April 15, 2028
If you miss those deadlines, the refund legally belongs to the U.S. Treasury. No exceptions.
Even If You Owe, File Anyway to Claim your IRS Tax Refund
Many people think, “I probably owe — I’ll deal with it later.” That’s a huge mistake.
When you don’t file:
- Penalties and interest start adding up daily.
- The Failure-to-File penalty alone can reach 25% of your unpaid balance.
- And the Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) — the 10-year clock that limits how long the IRS can collect — doesn’t start until you file.
So if you haven’t filed in years, you’re not “avoiding” the IRS — you’re just keeping the clock from ever running out.
Why So Many IRS Tax Refunds Go Unclaimed
In my practice, I see it all the time:
- People who owed in the past assume they’ll always owe.
- Fear of the IRS keeps taxpayers from filing.
- Some just procrastinate and let the years pile up.
But here’s the truth: not filing hurts you more than filing ever could. You may even be entitled to credits you never claimed.
My Message to You to avoid Unclaimed IRS Refunds
If you’ve skipped filing because of fear, confusion, or just putting it off, you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
Take my client, Ramon, for example. He missed out on $11,883 in federal refunds and $2,266 in New York State refunds — not because he didn’t qualify, but simply because he didn’t file on time.
The IRS isn’t going to call and remind you. They’ll just keep your money — and keep adding penalties if you owe.
Want to learn more about Ramon’s experience? 👉 Watch his testimonial here
✅ IRS Refund Deadlines You Shouldn’t Miss
If you think you may have missed a refund or you’re behind on tax filings, let’s talk.
At W. Scully, CPA, P.C. and Tax Resolution Experts of America, we help taxpayers:
- File back returns
- Claim old refunds before they expire
- Resolve IRS balances and stop penalties from growing
👉 Click to book a confidential consultation today:
👉 Or call us directly at (718) 938-4601 or visit W. Scully, CPA, P.C.
Don’t throw away free money — and don’t give the IRS extra time to collect. File now and take back control.
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