Time is running out to claim your 2021 tax refund if you did not file a 2021 federal return with the deadline to file and claim your refund being April 15, 2025. Filing a missed 2021 return may also qualify you for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Recovery Rebate Credit or other credits if you meet the requirements.
The IRS estimates that over $1 billion in tax refunds are still unclaimed by individuals who haven’t filed their 2021 Income Tax Return. For that year, the median refund is estimated at $781—meaning half of the refunds are higher and half are lower. This figure does not account for the Recovery Rebate Credit or any other potentially available credits.
By law, there is a limited three year window to claim a refund. After that date, unclaimed 2021 federal tax refunds will become the property of the U.S. Treasury.