IRS has $13.3 million for Nevadans from 2008

The Internal Revenue Service has more than $13.3 million in refunds due to 14,500 Nevada taxpayers who did not file a return in 2008.

But to claim it, residents need to file a federal tax income return for 2008 by April 17. The law requires that the tax return be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date.

There is no penalty to file a late return if a refund is due.

The money is part of $1 billion owed to more than 1 million taxpayers for the 2008 tax year, with a median potential refund of $637. The average potential refund to Nevada taxpayers is $615, the IRS said.

If you lived in California, Arizona or Utah in 2008 and moved to Nevada the following year, you might also be eligible for a refund.

In Arizona, 29,000 taxpayers were owed almost $25 million, while California had 122,500 residents owed
$112.2 million and Utah had 7,800 taxpayers eligible for $6.6 million.

In some cases, people may have not filed their 2008 returns because they had too little income to require filing a tax return although they had taxes withheld from their wages or made qualifying quarterly payments.

If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes the U.S. Treasury's property.

The IRS reminds taxpayers seeking a 2008 refund that their checks may be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2009 and 2010. Also, the refund will apply 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.

By failing to file a return, people stand to lose more than tax refunds form 2008. Some people, especially those who did not receive an economic stimulus payment in 2008, may qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Also, many low-and moderate-income workers may not have claimed the earned income tax credit. The credit helps individuals and families are below certain thresholds.

For more information, visit irs.gov and visit the earned income tax credit home page. Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are available on the "forms and publications" page of irs.gov or by calling 800- 829-3676.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at
csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.