WASHINGTON, DC — Unclaimed refunds totaling approximately $1.3 billion are awaiting over a million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2005, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2005 must be filed with the IRS no later than Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Especially in these tough economic times, people should not lose out on money that is rightfully theirs,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “People should check their records, especially if they had taxes withheld from their paychecks but were not required to file a tax return. They may be leaving money on the table, including valuable tax credits that can mean even more money in their pockets.”
The IRS estimates that half of those who could claim refunds for tax year 2005 would receive more than $581. Some individuals may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax 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. For 2005 returns, the window closes on April 15, 2009. The law requires that the return be properly addressed, postmarked and mailed by that date. There is no penalty assessed by the IRS for filing a late return qualifying for a refund.
The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2005 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2006 or 2007. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.
By failing to file a return, individuals stand to lose more than refunds of taxes withheld or paid during 2005. Many low-income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Generally, unmarried individuals qualified for the EITC if in 2005 they earned less than $35,263 and had more than one qualifying child living with them, earned less than $31,030 with one qualifying child, or earned less than $11,750 and had no qualifying child. Limits are slightly higher for married individuals filing jointly.
Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications web page of IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). Information about the Earned Income Tax Credit and how to claim it is also available on IRS.gov. Taxpayers who need help also can call the toll-free IRS help line at 1-800-829-1040.
Individuals Who Did Not File a 2005 Return with an Estimated Refund
|
|
Total |
||
|
Median |
Estimated |
||
|
Estimated |
Refunds |
||
|
Individuals |
Refund* |
($000)* |
|
|
Alabama |
21,400 |
$585 |
$18,167 |
|
Alaska |
6,100 |
$665 |
$6,925 |
|
Arizona |
36,900 |
$487 |
$31,234 |
|
Arkansas |
11,400 |
$547 |
$9,756 |
|
California |
154,500 |
$537 |
$144,580 |
|
Colorado |
23,700 |
$532 |
$20,676 |
|
Connecticut |
16,000 |
$659 |
$18,234 |
|
Delaware |
5,400 |
$592 |
$5,117 |
| Dist of Columbia |
5,300 |
$564 |
$5,518 |
|
Florida |
99,300 |
$609 |
$108,162 |
|
Georgia |
44,400 |
$538 |
$39,381 |
|
Hawaii |
9,400 |
$639 |
$11,108 |
|
Idaho |
5,300 |
$464 |
$4,113 |
|
Illinois |
50,400 |
$640 |
$53,166 |
|
Indiana |
26,600 |
$624 |
$24,041 |
|
Iowa |
11,800 |
$587 |
$9,367 |
|
Kansas |
12,900 |
$555 |
$10,804 |
|
Kentucky |
14,600 |
$588 |
$12,506 |
|
Louisiana |
24,900 |
$594 |
$24,388 |
|
Maine |
4,900 |
$532 |
$3,928 |
|
Maryland |
30,600 |
$584 |
$29,967 |
|
Massachusetts |
29,600 |
$638 |
$31,942 |
|
Michigan |
45,100 |
$609 |
$42,390 |
|
Minnesota |
19,700 |
$531 |
$17,085 |
|
Mississippi |
12,200 |
$533 |
$10,311 |
|
Missouri |
26,000 |
$550 |
$21,237 |
|
Montana |
3,700 |
$509 |
$3,125 |
|
Nebraska |
5,900 |
$548 |
$5,091 |
|
Nevada |
18,300 |
$551 |
$17,588 |
|
New Hampshire |
5,500 |
$667 |
$5,759 |
|
New Jersey |
41,100 |
$646 |
$43,761 |
|
New Mexico |
9,400 |
$532 |
$7,724 |
|
New York |
76,800 |
$639 |
$82,994 |
|
North Carolina |
37,300 |
$515 |
$29,645 |
|
North Dakota |
2,000 |
$553 |
$1,647 |
|
Ohio |
44,600 |
$571 |
$37,290 |
|
Oklahoma |
17,000 |
$546 |
$14,541 |
|
Oregon |
21,000 |
$467 |
$16,138 |
|
Pennsylvania |
47,800 |
$623 |
$43,958 |
|
Rhode Island |
4,500 |
$610 |
$4,332 |
|
South Carolina |
16,000 |
$506 |
$13,240 |
|
South Dakota |
2,400 |
$602 |
$2,046 |
|
Tennessee |
21,900 |
$586 |
$19,917 |
|
Texas |
103,000 |
$624 |
$105,241 |
|
Utah |
8,300 |
$496 |
$8,334 |
|
Vermont |
2,300 |
$550 |
$1,730 |
|
Virginia |
40,200 |
$576 |
$40,657 |
|
Washington |
35,600 |
$624 |
$39,414 |
|
West Virginia |
4,900 |
$627 |
$4,389 |
|
Wisconsin |
16,900 |
$535 |
$13,825 |
|
Wyoming |
2,800 |
$649 |
$2,785 |
| Armed Forces |
5,500 |
$800 |
$4,540 |
| US Possessions/Territories |
200 |
$754 |
$320 |
| Total |
1,343,000 |
$581 |
$1,284,133 |
*Excluding the Earned Income Credit and other taxes.
Apparently those who work in the Obama administration know this and have not paid in years, about 10 of them! But why then are ordinary people thrown in jail and tortured and gassed and starved, over taxes?
I can’t find anywhere in the Federal law where it makes me or anyone liable for income taxes. I wish the IRS would come right out and say that federal income taxes are not voluntary since they will come after you like Nazi stormtroopers to steal your property, income and assets. Furthermore, We the People have asked the IRS humdreds of times to prove to the public what law makes anyone liable for income taxes. To date, 10 years later, the IRS and the US Government has failed to answer. In fact, numerous criminal tax cases over the years, e.g., US v. Cryer, etc., have proven that there is no income tax and that government cannot tax wages and salaries because the US Supreme Court has held that these are not income.