Refund Statute Expiring: Don't Miss Out!

Article Highlights:

  • The refund statute expires on May 17, 2021 for unfiled 2017 returns. 
  • Unfiled returns will lose out on refundable credits. 
  • Refunds may be offset by unpaid child support, past due student loans, and back taxes. 
If you have not yet filed your 2017 tax return and have a refund coming, time to claim that refund is running out! The IRS estimates that more than 1.35 million taxpayers have not filed their 2017 tax returns with approximately $1.3 billion of unclaimed refunds available for those taxpayers. If you fall in this category, you need to act quickly because the return must be filed by May 17, 2021 to claim a refund for 2017. Otherwise, the money becomes the property of the U.S. Treasury.

People stand to lose more than a refund of taxes withheld or paid during 2017 by failing to file a return. For example, many low- and moderate-income workers who haven’t filed for 2017 may qualify to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable credit that provides financial assistance to individuals and families with incomes below certain thresholds. In addition, taxpayers may also qualify for the refundable child and education credits.



When filing a 2017 return, the law requires that the return be properly addressed, mailed, and postmarked by May 17. There is no penalty for filing a late return that qualifies for a refund.

As a reminder, taxpayers seeking a 2017 refund should know that their checks will be held if they have not filed tax returns for 2018 and 2019. In addition, the refund will be applied 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.

Please give this office a call as soon as possible if you have not filed your 2017 return. Sufficient time is needed to prepare and print the return and for you to take it to the post office to send with proof of mailing.



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Frequently Asked Questions

You can prepare your taxes yourself, especially if your business is simple.

But once you have contractors, employees, business loans, equipment purchases, mileage, mixed expenses, or growing revenue, things get more complex. At that point, tax preparation becomes a way to make sure your business is reported correctly, your deductions are handled properly, and your records can support what you file.

Send anything that shows what your business earned, spent, bought, paid, borrowed, or changed during the year.

That usually means your income records, bank statements, credit card statements, payroll reports, contractor payments, loan documents, mileage records, and prior-year tax return. Also tell me about anything unusual, such as buying a vehicle, hiring someone, opening a new location, or taking out a business loan.

Messy books can slow things down. If expenses are in the wrong categories, transactions are missing, or personal and business spending are mixed together, your tax return may not show the right profit. We may need to clean things up before filing, so your return is accurate and easier to support.

Possibly, if it was truly for your business and you have proof.

Still, it is much better to avoid this when you can. A separate business bank account and business credit card make everything cleaner. They save time, reduce confusion, and make your records much easier to defend if anyone ever asks questions.

Most small business owners can deduct ordinary business expenses like software, advertising, supplies, insurance, rent, payroll, contractor payments, professional fees, travel, and some vehicle costs.

The question I usually ask is simple. Was this expense clearly for the business? If yes, we can look at how it should be handled. Personal expenses should stay personal.

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