IRS has refunds totaling $12 million for Minnesotans who didn't file 2012 tax return

An estimated one million Americans, including 15,200 taxpayers in Minnesota, who did not file a federal income tax return in 2012 have tax refunds totaling $950 million, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.

In Minnesota, the 15,200 taxpayers who did not file a tax return in 2012 have an estimated $12,981,000 in total refunds. The median potential refund for those Minnesotans is $657, with half being worth more and half being worth less.

"A surprising number of people across the country overlook claiming tax refunds each year,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a statement.

Taxpayers who did not file a tax return in a given year have a three-year window of opportunity to file a tax return and claim their refund. If no return is filed to claim a refund, the money goes to the United States Treasury.

How to get your refund

If you did not file a federal income tax return in 2012, you must file a 2012 tax return with the IRS no later than this year’s deadline on April 18. The tax return must be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by that date.

The IRS will withhold your refund, however, if you have not filed your tax return for 2013 and 2014.

2012 tax forms and instructions are available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-829-3676.