WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that the IRS has unclaimed federal tax refunds totaling $39,414,000 for 35,600 Washingtonians who haven’t filed a federal income tax return for 2005. In order to collect the money, a tax return for 2005 must be filed no later than April 15, 2009.

 

“Given these tough economic times, Washingtonians could use this money to help make ends meet,” said Cantwell. “I encourage Washingtonians who may not have filed a return in 2005 to check their records, and complete it by the April 15, 2009 deadline in order to receive their refund.”  

 

The IRS estimates that Washingtonians could receive up $624. Some individuals may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages, or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim the refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. There is no penalty assessed by the IRS for filing a late return qualifying for a refund. However, the IRS will hold the 2005 refund checks if a 2006 or 2007 tax return hasn’t been filed.

 

Current and prior year tax forms are available on the Forms and Publications web page at www.irs.gov or by calling (800) 829-3676.

 

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