The IRS has once again extended the tax filing and payment deadlines in most parts of California due to destruction caused by landslides, mudslides, and severe storms. Now those Californians have until October 16th to file, as opposed to the previously announced May 15th date.

The IRS has extended the fourth quarter 2022 estimated tax payment deadline to October 16th. The 2023 estimated tax payments due on April 18th, June 15th, and September 15th, as well as the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns due on January 31st, April 30th, and July 31st, have also been delayed until October 16th. No contact or extension paperwork is necessary to take advantage of the extended time. If taxpayers receive penalty notifications within the postponed period, they should contact the number provided for the penalty to be waived.

The IRS estimates that 1.5 million Americans are entitled to 2019 federal tax refunds that they have not claimed, including thousands of households in every state and DC. Millions of people forgot to file 2019 tax returns, because the filing season occurred during the height of the pandemic emergency in 2020. To claim a 2019 federal tax refund, you must file a 2019 return by July 17, 2023. After that date, any unclaimed refunds become the property of the U.S. Treasury.

Even if you owed little or no tax for 2019, you may still be entitled to an IRS refund if you qualified for a refundable tax credit, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credit (PTC). The IRS estimates that not including refundable credits, the median unclaimed 2019 refund is $893, which means that half of the available refunds are greater than that amount.

The IRS advises starting this process early, because you may need to track down wage statements and other documents from 2019.