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 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern) Frequently Answered Questions (by topic)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?
How can I set the aperture on my DSLR when it's attached to a telescope instead of a lens?
Is multiple magic items in one inherently imbalanced?
How did Fremen produce and carry enough thumpers to use Sandworms as de facto Ubers?
Why are my pictures showing a dark band on one edge?
How much damage would a cupful of neutron star matter do to the Earth?
Is CEO the "profession" with the most psychopaths?
Would it be easier to apply for a UK visa if there is a host family to sponsor for you in going there?
Did any compiler fully use 80-bit floating point?
Can a Beast Master ranger change beast companions?
What makes a man succeed?
Does the Mueller report show a conspiracy between Russia and the Trump Campaign?
Draw 4 of the same figure in the same tikzpicture
Did Mueller's report provide an evidentiary basis for the claim of Russian govt election interference via social media?
How would a mousetrap for use in space work?
Why is it faster to reheat something than it is to cook it?
How could we fake a moon landing now?
The Nth Gryphon Number
How does Belgium enforce obligatory attendance in elections?
Flash light on something
Karn the great creator - 'card from outside the game' in sealed
Dyck paths with extra diagonals from valleys (Laser construction)
Trademark violation for app?
How were pictures turned from film to a big picture in a picture frame before digital scanning?
1-probability to calculate two events in a row
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 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern)
Frequently Answered Questions (by topic)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?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
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 Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
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 Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03
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 Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
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 Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
asked Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
edited Apr 15 at 17:47
Dr Sheldon
asked Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
asked Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
asked Apr 15 at 16:24
Dr SheldonDr Sheldon
17318
17318
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03
add a comment |
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03
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 Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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 Apr 15 at 20:00
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
add a comment |
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ Apr 15 at 18:20
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?
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
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 Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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 Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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 Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
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 Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
edited Apr 15 at 17:00
answered Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
answered Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
answered Apr 15 at 16:29
Hart COHart CO
36.1k686103
36.1k686103
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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
Apr 16 at 3:22
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 Apr 15 at 20:00
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
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 Apr 15 at 20:00
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
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 Apr 15 at 20:00
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 Apr 15 at 20:00
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
edited Apr 15 at 20:22
answered Apr 15 at 20:00
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
answered Apr 15 at 20:00
J. Chris ComptonJ. Chris Compton
1,165212
answered Apr 15 at 20:00
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
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
Apr 15 at 20:16
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
@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
Apr 15 at 20:19
add a comment |
protected by JoeTaxpayer♦ Apr 15 at 18:20
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?
Noteworthy: The threshold for tax filing in 2018 tax season was $12,000. If you earned more than $12,000, you are obligated to file a return regardless if the IRS owes you a refund or you owe them more taxes.
– SnakeDoc
Apr 16 at 17:03