The Internal Revenue Service estimates it is sitting on $13.6 million owed to Hawaii taxpayers for the 1998 tax year and it wants them to take that money off its hands. Tardy tax filers
could lose refundsStar-Bulletin staff
About 10,600 people in the state who failed to file returns are due a median refund of $514 for the period, according to IRS estimates.
Nationwide, about 1.7 million people are owed a median of $498, for a total of $2.3 billion in outstanding refunds for 1998.
"Time is running out for individuals to take steps to claim this money," IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti said in a statement.
In order to collect the money, a tax return must be filed with the IRS by April 15. Refunds unclaimed for more than three years revert to the U.S. Treasury, Rossotti said.
Taxpayers must file returns for subsequent years before any refund check is released. The refund will be applied to any amounts still owed to the IRS and may be used to satisfy unpaid child support or past due federal debts, such as student loans.
Current and prior year tax forms are available at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676). For more information, call the IRS help line at 1-800-829-1040.