More than a million American taxpayers could be leaving cash on the table as the deadline to claim tax refunds from three years ago is fast approaching. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning that more than a million taxpayers are still eligible to receive a share of more than $1 billion in refunds—but they need to act quickly.

The IRS has issued more than 29.6 million individual income tax refunds through Feb. 21, up 2.3% from a year ago.

As the April 15 filing deadline looms, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that after three years, any unclaimed 2021 tax year refunds go to the U.S. Treasury.

In 2025, the IRS has issued over $124 billion in tax refunds, marking an 8.1% increase from the previous year. This surge in refunds comes despite fewer tax returns being filed, attributed to inflation adjustments and new deductions.

The layoffs, which have been directed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire and "special government employee" Elon Musk, have sparked concerns among experts who fear that the IRS won't be able to process Americans' tax refunds as quickly as usual this year.

How many tax returns has the IRS processed so far in 2025? On Friday, the IRS released statistics comparing its progress through the sixth week of tax season 2024 (ending March 8,

The IRS has announced that over $1 billion in tax refunds from the 2021 fiscal year remain unclaimed. With a deadline looming in 2025, eligible taxpayers still have a chance to claim their refunds. Discover who stands to gain the most and why some missed out on their refunds.