How To Find Unclaimed Federal Tax Refund Checks

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has millions of dollars in tax refunds that are not claimed. This article will go over how to claim any tax refund checks that you are owed. So keep reading below to find out if you are owed money, and go get what’s rightfully yours.

If Your Refund Check Wasn’t Delivered

Refund checks are always delivered to your last known address, so if you moved and didn’t notify the IRS or the US Postal Service (USPS), your refund check was probably returned to the IRS. Check out Where’s My Refund for more information. You’ll be asked to enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact amount of your refund. You might be asked to change your address online as well.

Where’s My Refund?

This database will post updates on your refund, specifically the most recent tax year that the IRS has on file for you. The length of time for your refund status updates depend on how you filed. If you filed them online, it’s 24 hours before getting an update. If you filed your taxes by mail, it will be 4 weeks from when the IRS received it.

Calling the IRS

There’s only two scenarios when you should call the IRS: It’s been more than 21 days since you e-filed, and if the Where’s My Refund site tells you to contact the IRS. It’s important to know that the IRS will contact you via mail if the IRS needs more information on your return.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of returns that could take longer to process:

  • If the return is incomplete

  • If the return has been affected by identity theft or fraud

  • Needs a correction for the Recovery Rebate Credit amount

  • Includes a claim for the Earned Income Tax Credit

  • Needs further review in general

More Refund Information

Your refund information will be available until the second or third week of December of that tax year, if the US Individual Income Tax Return is filed before July 1st. For the US Individual Income Tax Returns filed after July 1st, the refund information will be available throughout the following year until you a file a return for a more current tax year.

Get What’s Yours

Make sure you’re taking advantage of what is owed to you by finding out if the IRS owes you any unclaimed tax refunds.

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