What is the deadline to claim a refund?
The deadline to file a claim is July 10, 2026.
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Personal Finance / Taxes
IRS COVID-19 Era Refunds: Claim by July 10, 2026
Millions of Americans may be eligible for refunds or abatements of penalties and interest assessed by the IRS during the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent court ruling has brought this to light, but the deadline to claim these potential refunds i...
Key Insights
- **Deadline:** Taxpayers must file refund claims by July 10, 2026, to preserve their rights to a potential refund related to penalties and interest assessed during the COVID-19 disaster period.
- **Eligibility:** A broad range of taxpayers, including individuals, small businesses, and large corporations, may be affected. This includes obligations related to income, employment, estate, gift, and excise taxes.
- **Reasoning:** A court ruling in *Kwong vs. United States* interpreted a tax rule that says once a federally declared disaster is in effect, tax code Section 7508A(d) mandates postponement of applicable tax deadlines for the disaster period plus 60 days.
- **The IRS Disagrees:** The IRS disagrees with the ruling and the Department of Justice will probably appeal, but until then, taxpayers must make a claim to preserve their refund if it's approved, lawyers said.
In-Depth Analysis
### Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS continued to assess penalties and interest for late filings and payments. However, the *Kwong vs. United States* court decision has challenged this, stating that tax deadlines should have been postponed during the declared disaster period.
### What the Ruling Means The court ruled that the COVID-19 public health emergency, which lasted from January 20, 2020, through May 11, 2023, falls under the provision that mandates postponement of tax deadlines. Adding 60 days to the end of the emergency extends the tax deadline to July 10, 2023, for tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 filings.
### How to Determine if You're Owed a Refund 1. **Check Your Tax Records:** Review your IRS tax transcript to see if any penalties or interest were levied during the tax filing pause. 2. **Obtain a Tax Transcript:** * **Online:** Register for an Individual Online Account on the IRS website to view, print, or download your transcript. * **By Mail:** Order a transcript on the IRS website or call the automated phone service at 800-908-9946. It should arrive in 5-10 calendar days.
### Filing a Claim To protect your right to a refund, you must file a claim using IRS Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement.
1. **Specify Protective Claim:** Indicate on the form that it’s a protective claim based on the *Kwong v. United States* decision regarding Section 7508A(d) and the COVID-19 disaster period. 2. **File by Mail:** As the IRS does not currently accept electronic submissions for Form 843, send your refund claims by certified mail to prove timely submission.
### Why This Matters For taxpayers dealing with financial pressures, these potential refunds can make a real difference. It is crucial to act before the July 10, 2026, deadline to request any potential refunds.
FAQ
How do I know if I am eligible for a refund?
Check your tax records or IRS tax transcript to see if the IRS levied any penalties or interest during the tax filing pause from January 20, 2020, through May 11, 2023.
What form do I need to file?
File IRS Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement.
Can I file the form electronically?
No, the form must be submitted via mail.
Takeaways
- **Act Now:** The most important takeaway is to act before the July 10, 2026, deadline to preserve your right to a potential refund.
- **Check Your Records:** Review your tax transcripts to identify any penalties or interest assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- **File a Protective Claim:** Even if you're unsure, file a protective claim to preserve your rights while the legal issues are being resolved.
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