IRS has $18.5 million for Missouri workers with unfiled 2007 tax returns

Refunds totaling more than $18.5 million may be waiting for 20,300 Missouri taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2007. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that half of these potential refunds are $600 or more.

"Some people 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," said IRS spokesman Michael Devine.

Nationwide, refunds totaling more than $1.1 billion may be waiting for nearly 1.1 million people who did not file a federal income tax return for 2007. The IRS estimates that half of these potential 2007 refunds are $640 or more.

Devine said in cases where a 2007 return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. That window closes on April 18, 2011 and if no return is filed to claim a refund, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. There is no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund.

By failing to file a return, taxpayers may lose more than a refund of taxes withheld. Low-and-moderate income workers may not have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit, which in 2007 could have been worth as much as $4,716 for those with two or more qualifying children.

he IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2007 refund that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2008 and 2009. In addition, the refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to offset unpaid child support or past due federal debts such as student loans.

Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or by calling toll-free (800) TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

Taxpayers who are missing Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 for 2007, 2008 or 2009 should request copies from their employer, bank or other payer. If these efforts are unsuccessful, taxpayers can get a free transcript showing information from these year-end documents by ordering on-line at www.irs.gov, calling (800) 908-9946 or by filing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, with the IRS.