By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are thousands of Kansas taxpayers who will leave money on the table if they don't act by May 17.
"Not filing a tax return can mean you lose a refund," said Michael Devine with the IRS. "In 2017, more than 13,000 Kansas taxpayers didn't claim refunds worth more than $13 million."
Normally these three-year old returns have to be filed by April 15, but that deadline was extended with the rest to the 17th of May earlier this year.c
"Some people don't file because they don't have a requirement to, they don't make enough money," said Devine. "They don't make enough money. They should file, because they could be eligible for a refund or even for something like the Earned Income Tax Credit. In 2017, that could have been more than $6,000 in a refund. Some people owe money and they don't want to file a tax return, because they think the IRS will find them. The IRS doesn't forget people that don't file."
In fact, filing those old returns can help you with your tax bill in some circumstances.
"If you're not current on your taxes, filing those tax returns, if you were due a refund in 2017, but you had a tax bill in 2018, that refund that you would get for 2017 would be credited to any federal tax debts or even student loans," Devine said. "Filing the tax return could reduce a tax bill. I promise the longer you wait to get current on your taxes, the more you would owe in interest and penalties."
For more information on catching up on your tax filing go to irs.gov.
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