IR-2026-37, March 20, 2026
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today announced that over 1.3 million people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax year 2022 and face an April 15 deadline to submit their tax returns.
The IRS estimates that approximately $1.2 billion in refunds remains unclaimed for taxpayers who have not filed their Form 1040 Federal income tax return for the 2022 tax year. The IRS estimates the median refund amount is $686 for 2022, which means that half of the refunds are more than $686. This estimate does not include credits that may be applicable.
Under the law, taxpayers usually have three years to file and claim their tax refunds. If they do not file within three years, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.