More than one million taxpayers who haven’t filed 2015 income tax returns may be entitled to a portion of $1.4 billion in refunds. The number includes an estimated 16,100 Wisconsin taxpayers. To claim a refund, taxpayers must file their 2015 tax returns with the IRS by April 15. In most cases, taxpayers have a three-year window of opportunity to claim a tax refund.
Taxpayers who file for a 2015 refund and haven’t filed 2016 and 2017 tax returns may have their refund checks withheld. If a taxpayer has outstanding federal or state tax debt, their refund may be put toward that debt or past-due federal debts, such as student loans. The refunds also can divert to state taxing authorities and be used to offset unpaid child support.