April 15, 2015, is deadline for unclaimed 2011 tax refunds
Sunday, March 15, 2015
I can't imagine leaving my tax refund in Uncle Sam's hands for years. But then, I usually don't get a refund.
Most taxpayers, however, do get at least some tax cash back every year.
And every year, some folks don't claim what's theirs.
This year, the Internal Revenue Service has around $1 billion for more than 1 million taxpayers who didn't file a 2011 tax return.
The parceling out of that billion or so bucks to the 2011 tax year nonfilers could produce a nice chunk of change for some folks. The median refund check, says the IRS, is $698.
2011 filing due date is 4-15-15: To get your money that's been languishing in the U.S. Treasury's account, all you have to do is send in a 2011 Form 1040 by this coming April 15.
Fail to do that, though, and you forfeit your refund forever.
When a tax return is not filed, the law gives most taxpayers a three-year window of opportunity to claim a refund. Three years ago -- April 15, 2012 -- was the original due date for the 2011 tax year federal returns.
That means the 2011 filing window closes on April 15, 2015.
Once the three-year deadline passes, the unclaimed money becomes Uncle Sam's property.
State, D.C. amounts: If you need even more incentive, here's the breakdown of the 2011 unclaimed tax refund money.
Three-year deadline nears for unclaimed 2011 federal tax refunds
| Jurisdiction |
Number |
Median |
Total |
| Alabama |
19,900 |
$693 |
$17,794,000 |
| Alaska |
5,300 |
$795 |
$5,703,000 |
| Arizona |
27,700 |
$618 |
$23,649,000 |
| Arkansas |
10,600 |
$678 |
$8,371,000 |
| California |
103,700 |
$627 |
$92,209,000 |
| Colorado |
21,100 |
$668 |
$19,258,000 |
| Connecticut |
13,400 |
$777 |
$13,415,000 |
| Delaware |
4,800 |
$726 |
$4,579,000 |
| District of Columbia |
3,900 |
$736 |
$3,812,000 |
| Florida |
67,500 |
$720 |
$64,106,000 |
| Georgia |
36,200 |
$628 |
$31,250,000 |
| Hawaii |
7,100 |
$742 |
$6,842,000 |
| Idaho |
4,700 |
$595 |
$3,838,000 |
| Illinois |
44,000 |
$763 |
$43,177,000 |
| Indiana |
23,900 |
$732 |
$22,135,000 |
| Iowa |
11,100 |
$719 |
$10,128,000 |
| Kansas |
11,600 |
$667 |
$10,421,000 |
| Kentucky |
14,300 |
$736 |
$12,935,000 |
| Louisiana |
22,000 |
$693 |
$21,432,000 |
| Maine |
4,500 |
$645 |
$3,748,000 |
| Maryland |
25,000 |
$694 |
$23,628,000 |
| Massachusetts |
25,800 |
$736 |
$25,005,000 |
| Michigan |
36,200 |
$721 |
$34,254,000 |
| Minnesota |
16,500 |
$632 |
$14,148,000 |
| Mississippi |
11,100 |
$629 |
$9,625,000 |
| Missouri |
23,600 |
$655 |
$20,378,000 |
| Montana |
3,700 |
$676 |
$3,381,000 |
| Nebraska |
5,700 |
$683 |
$5,108,000 |
| Nevada |
13,300 |
$702 |
$12,185,000 |
| New Hampshire |
4,600 |
$775 |
$4,518,000 |
| New Jersey |
34,200 |
$780 |
$34,520,000 |
| New Mexico |
8,500 |
$688 |
$7,799,000 |
| New York |
63,400 |
$765 |
$62,809,000 |
| North Carolina |
31,700 |
$595 |
$26,248,000 |
| North Dakota |
2,600 |
$761 |
$2,591,000 |
| Ohio |
39,600 |
$699 |
$35,218,000 |
| Oklahoma |
19,300 |
$707 |
$17,988,000 |
| Oregon |
17,500 |
$598 |
$14,262,000 |
| Pennsylvania |
44,000 |
$770 |
$42,228,000 |
| Rhode Island |
3,400 |
$748 |
$3,270,000 |
| South Carolina |
13,200 |
$609 |
$11,160,000 |
| South Dakota |
2,600 |
$732 |
$2,480,000 |
| Tennessee |
20,700 |
$690 |
$18,630,000 |
| Texas |
101,800 |
$743 |
$103,164,000 |
| Utah |
8,000 |
$610 |
$6,944,000 |
| Vermont |
2,100 |
$707 |
$1,921,000 |
| Virginia |
32,100 |
$685 |
$29,647,000 |
| Washington |
28,400 |
$750 |
$28,705,000 |
| West Virginia |
5,100 |
$784 |
$5,023,000 |
| Wisconsin |
14,100 |
$621 |
$11,953,000 |
| Wyoming |
2,800 |
$835 |
$2,984,000 |
|
TOTAL |
1,117,900 |
$698 |
$1,041,576,000 |
Most of the 2011 return nonfilers are from California. My native Texas is a close second when it comes to neglecting tax tasks from three years ago.
Vermont is home of the most conscientious filers, with the Green Mountain State having the fewest nonfiling residents three years ago.
The biggest median check amount -- $835 -- belongs to Wyoming. That Cowboy State amount also wins this week's By the Numbers honors.
Getting the old forms: So if you're one of the 1.17 million nonfilers from three years ago, download that year's tax return and schedules from IRS.gov's prior year products page and get to work!
You also can call toll-free 800-TAX-FORM FREE (800-829-3676 FREE) to order old forms.
And if you're missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for the unfiled tax years, check with your employer, bank or other payer for copies.
One final note. If you also overlooked your 2012 and/or 2013 filing, that will hold up your 2011 refund. So make sure you've filed for those years, too.
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