Millions of taxpayers have until July 10 to claim an IRS refund

Millions of Taxpayers Have Until July 10 to Claim an IRS Refund

Millions of taxpayers have until July 10, 2026, to claim a refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as confirmed by Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate. This deadline extension, introduced following a pivotal federal court ruling in November, is designed to provide additional time for those impacted by the COVID-19 emergency declaration to file for refunds or submit protective claims. The initial deadline had been set for May 11, 2023, but the court’s decision granted an extra 60 days, ensuring that taxpayers affected during the pandemic period can now take advantage of the opportunity to recover overpaid taxes, penalties, or interest.

Standard IRS procedures typically allow individuals to request refunds within three years from the date their tax return was filed or two years from when they paid taxes, penalties, or interest. However, the court’s ruling in the case

Kwong v. United States

expanded this window, particularly for those who submitted returns or made payments during the federal disaster period, which was active from January 20, 2020, through May 11, 2023. Collins emphasized that this extension is critical for taxpayers who may have missed out on certain credits, incurred errors in reporting, or delayed filings due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic. “Millions of taxpayers have until July 10 to ensure they don’t lose the chance to recover funds they were legally entitled to,” she added.

Eligibility and Scenarios for Refund Claims

The new deadline applies to a wide range of taxpayers who were directly affected by the pandemic-related declaration. This includes individuals who filed tax returns while the disaster was active, those who paid or still owe penalties and interest for late filings or payments, and those who submitted international information returns