Do you forfeit tax refunds/credits if you aren't required to and don't file by April 15? Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern) Frequently Answered Questions (by topic) Can we remove “Strategies for earning more money” from the on-topic list?How to claim a minor's income?Effect of community state laws on Married Filing Separately filing statusAm I required to file a Georgia tax return?Do my kids need to file a tax return?Obligation to file US tax returns if I have 401k and Health Savings AccountDo I have to file taxes in all states I lived in USA?Does receiving a 1099-MISC require one to file a tax return even if he normally would not be required to file?Filing State Tax Returns as an Out-of-state College StudentCounty tax credits for living and working in different statesCan you file only a federal tax return (and not state) if you're not required to in the first place?
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Do you forfeit tax refunds/credits if you aren't required to and don't file by April 15?
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Do you forfeit tax refunds/credits if you aren't required to and don't file by April 15?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)
Frequently Answered Questions (by topic)
Can we remove “Strategies for earning more money” from the on-topic list?How to claim a minor's income?Effect of community state laws on Married Filing Separately filing statusAm I required to file a Georgia tax return?Do my kids need to file a tax return?Obligation to file US tax returns if I have 401k and Health Savings AccountDo I have to file taxes in all states I lived in USA?Does receiving a 1099-MISC require one to file a tax return even if he normally would not be required to file?Filing State Tax Returns as an Out-of-state College StudentCounty tax credits for living and working in different statesCan you file only a federal tax return (and not state) if you're not required to in the first place?
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Some people in the United States are not required to file an income tax return (e.g. their income is too low). However, they could be entitled to a refund of wages withheld, or a credit such as the Earned Income tax credit. They need to file a return in order to get the refund or credit.
If such a person does not file by April 15, do they forfeit their refund/credit?
united-states taxes
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
add a comment |
Some people in the United States are not required to file an income tax return (e.g. their income is too low). However, they could be entitled to a refund of wages withheld, or a credit such as the Earned Income tax credit. They need to file a return in order to get the refund or credit.
If such a person does not file by April 15, do they forfeit their refund/credit?
united-states taxes
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
add a comment |
Some people in the United States are not required to file an income tax return (e.g. their income is too low). However, they could be entitled to a refund of wages withheld, or a credit such as the Earned Income tax credit. They need to file a return in order to get the refund or credit.
If such a person does not file by April 15, do they forfeit their refund/credit?
united-states taxes
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
Some people in the United States are not required to file an income tax return (e.g. their income is too low). However, they could be entitled to a refund of wages withheld, or a credit such as the Earned Income tax credit. They need to file a return in order to get the refund or credit.
If such a person does not file by April 15, do they forfeit their refund/credit?
united-states taxes
united-states taxes
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
edited 10 hours ago
Dr Sheldon
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
asked 12 hours ago
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
1738
1738
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
You have 3 years to claim a refund, so if you were owed a refund for 2018 you can claim it by filing a 2018 tax return up until the April 15, 2022 tax deadline (exceptions sometimes move the date a couple days for specific states). The treasury keeps unclaimed refunds after this 3-year period.
Today (Tax deadline 2019) is the last day to claim a refund from tax year 2015. Each year the IRS publishes something like this:
IRS: Refunds of $1.4 billion waiting to be claimed by individuals who have not filed federal income tax returns for 2015
As for tax credits I'm not aware of any that have a timely filing requirement. I know the big ones like child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and education credits do not have a timely filing requirement so the 3-years to file rule applies, but I'm not sure if this is true for all tax credits.
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, from the date it is due. 1
So if you didn't file your 2015 taxes yet,
but you did request an automatic extension for your 2015 return,
you can file and get your 2015 refund up until Aug 15, 2019 (instead of today April 15).
There is also another extension you can file that extends the due date until October 15, but I think that has to be done by a tax preparer.
Remember the topic is refunds... if you owe the IRS today (15-APR-2019) you have to pay what you owe by today. If you file an automatic extension it moves the due date of the paperwork (the filing)... it does not move the date you owe any money which you may owe.
This is not intended as tax advice, it's just ramblings from my personal experience.
1 This could be off a few days, see first comment.
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ 10 hours ago
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You have 3 years to claim a refund, so if you were owed a refund for 2018 you can claim it by filing a 2018 tax return up until the April 15, 2022 tax deadline (exceptions sometimes move the date a couple days for specific states). The treasury keeps unclaimed refunds after this 3-year period.
Today (Tax deadline 2019) is the last day to claim a refund from tax year 2015. Each year the IRS publishes something like this:
IRS: Refunds of $1.4 billion waiting to be claimed by individuals who have not filed federal income tax returns for 2015
As for tax credits I'm not aware of any that have a timely filing requirement. I know the big ones like child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and education credits do not have a timely filing requirement so the 3-years to file rule applies, but I'm not sure if this is true for all tax credits.
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, so if you were owed a refund for 2018 you can claim it by filing a 2018 tax return up until the April 15, 2022 tax deadline (exceptions sometimes move the date a couple days for specific states). The treasury keeps unclaimed refunds after this 3-year period.
Today (Tax deadline 2019) is the last day to claim a refund from tax year 2015. Each year the IRS publishes something like this:
IRS: Refunds of $1.4 billion waiting to be claimed by individuals who have not filed federal income tax returns for 2015
As for tax credits I'm not aware of any that have a timely filing requirement. I know the big ones like child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and education credits do not have a timely filing requirement so the 3-years to file rule applies, but I'm not sure if this is true for all tax credits.
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, so if you were owed a refund for 2018 you can claim it by filing a 2018 tax return up until the April 15, 2022 tax deadline (exceptions sometimes move the date a couple days for specific states). The treasury keeps unclaimed refunds after this 3-year period.
Today (Tax deadline 2019) is the last day to claim a refund from tax year 2015. Each year the IRS publishes something like this:
IRS: Refunds of $1.4 billion waiting to be claimed by individuals who have not filed federal income tax returns for 2015
As for tax credits I'm not aware of any that have a timely filing requirement. I know the big ones like child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and education credits do not have a timely filing requirement so the 3-years to file rule applies, but I'm not sure if this is true for all tax credits.
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
You have 3 years to claim a refund, so if you were owed a refund for 2018 you can claim it by filing a 2018 tax return up until the April 15, 2022 tax deadline (exceptions sometimes move the date a couple days for specific states). The treasury keeps unclaimed refunds after this 3-year period.
Today (Tax deadline 2019) is the last day to claim a refund from tax year 2015. Each year the IRS publishes something like this:
IRS: Refunds of $1.4 billion waiting to be claimed by individuals who have not filed federal income tax returns for 2015
As for tax credits I'm not aware of any that have a timely filing requirement. I know the big ones like child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and education credits do not have a timely filing requirement so the 3-years to file rule applies, but I'm not sure if this is true for all tax credits.
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
edited 11 hours ago
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
answered 12 hours ago
Hart COHart CO
35.7k686102
35.7k686102
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
1
1
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
Small point but may matter to some: for EIC, (CTC and) ACTC, and AOTC, since 2016 to claim you must have SSN(s) or ITIN(s) 'issued' (which is interpreted to include validly applied for) by the return due date including extensions, even if you actually claim on a late-filed or amended return. If you need an ITIN for a refundable credit and don't qualify for a W-7 exception so you must file W-7 attached to a return, the requirement to file W-7 timely means you must also file the attached return timely.
– dave_thompson_085
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, from the date it is due. 1
So if you didn't file your 2015 taxes yet,
but you did request an automatic extension for your 2015 return,
you can file and get your 2015 refund up until Aug 15, 2019 (instead of today April 15).
There is also another extension you can file that extends the due date until October 15, but I think that has to be done by a tax preparer.
Remember the topic is refunds... if you owe the IRS today (15-APR-2019) you have to pay what you owe by today. If you file an automatic extension it moves the due date of the paperwork (the filing)... it does not move the date you owe any money which you may owe.
This is not intended as tax advice, it's just ramblings from my personal experience.
1 This could be off a few days, see first comment.
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, from the date it is due. 1
So if you didn't file your 2015 taxes yet,
but you did request an automatic extension for your 2015 return,
you can file and get your 2015 refund up until Aug 15, 2019 (instead of today April 15).
There is also another extension you can file that extends the due date until October 15, but I think that has to be done by a tax preparer.
Remember the topic is refunds... if you owe the IRS today (15-APR-2019) you have to pay what you owe by today. If you file an automatic extension it moves the due date of the paperwork (the filing)... it does not move the date you owe any money which you may owe.
This is not intended as tax advice, it's just ramblings from my personal experience.
1 This could be off a few days, see first comment.
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
add a comment |
You have 3 years to claim a refund, from the date it is due. 1
So if you didn't file your 2015 taxes yet,
but you did request an automatic extension for your 2015 return,
you can file and get your 2015 refund up until Aug 15, 2019 (instead of today April 15).
There is also another extension you can file that extends the due date until October 15, but I think that has to be done by a tax preparer.
Remember the topic is refunds... if you owe the IRS today (15-APR-2019) you have to pay what you owe by today. If you file an automatic extension it moves the due date of the paperwork (the filing)... it does not move the date you owe any money which you may owe.
This is not intended as tax advice, it's just ramblings from my personal experience.
1 This could be off a few days, see first comment.
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
You have 3 years to claim a refund, from the date it is due. 1
So if you didn't file your 2015 taxes yet,
but you did request an automatic extension for your 2015 return,
you can file and get your 2015 refund up until Aug 15, 2019 (instead of today April 15).
There is also another extension you can file that extends the due date until October 15, but I think that has to be done by a tax preparer.
Remember the topic is refunds... if you owe the IRS today (15-APR-2019) you have to pay what you owe by today. If you file an automatic extension it moves the due date of the paperwork (the filing)... it does not move the date you owe any money which you may owe.
This is not intended as tax advice, it's just ramblings from my personal experience.
1 This could be off a few days, see first comment.
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
edited 8 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
answered 8 hours ago
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
1,165212
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
1
1
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
Good point about extensions, but your 2016 example should be 2015. 2015 was due April 2016, so 3 years puts us to 2019. Also it's not from the date it is due, it's based on the filing deadline of the third year. So, if the year you missed had an April 17 deadline that doesn't mean you can wait until April 17 3 years later, it's based on the filing deadline of that 3rd year, sometimes that means you get a couple days more or less than 3 years.
– Hart CO
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
@HartCO Yikes... good catch on the 2015. Wasn't aware of it being the third filing deadline... hence my disclaimer at the end. I will fix the dates.
– J. Chris Compton
8 hours ago
add a comment |
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ 10 hours ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
-taxes, united-states
