Tax day for 2022 has passed. But another deadline looms for people who may be waiting for refunds because they haven’t yet filed 2019 tax returns that were due in the early days of the pandemic.

If they don’t file by the final deadline of July 17, the US Treasury keeps the money.

Nearly 1.5 million people have unclaimed federal refunds for the 2019 tax year, when the typical refund amount was nearly $900, the Internal Revenue Service said this month.

While a July deadline may seem like a long time, it can take a while to gather documents from prior tax years.

“We want taxpayers to claim these refunds,” Daniel Werfel, the IRS commissioner, said in a statement“But time is running out.”

Taxpayers generally have three years from tax day to file and claim their refunds. (There is no penalty for not applying if you get your money back.)

Returns for the 2019 tax year were due in 2020, at the start of the pandemic. Many people faced “extremely unusual situations” and may have overlooked their tax returns or forgotten that they were due refunds, Werfel said.

The original tax filing date in 2020 It was delayed until July 15 of that year due to the pandemic, so the usual three-year window was extended again until July 17, 2023.

Some of the unclaimed refunds may go to people, like college students or part-time workers, who didn’t earn enough to meet the filing threshold. (The threshold in 2019 was $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for couples filing jointly, with higher thresholds for people age 65 and older.)

“People should absolutely file for their tax refund and not leave their money on the table,” even if they’re not required to file a return, said Lisa Greene-Lewis, a certified public accountant and spokeswoman for TurboTax.

Refunds may also be owed to many low- and moderate-income workers who were eligible for the earned income tax credit. the credit is worth up to $6,557 for 2019it’s “refundable,” which means you can still get a refund even if you don’t owe any tax.

The earned income tax credit is based on income and family size. In 2019, for example, a person with income up to $50,162 and three or more children was potentially eligible for the credit. A person with income up to $15,570 and no children may also be eligible.

Although you can still file your 2019 return, you should not expect to receive your refund quickly. This is because 2019 tax returns must be filed on paper, which takes longer for the IRS to process.

“Notably, paper-filed returns can take significant time to process and issue a refund,” said Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at digital advisor Betterment.

Eric Smith, an IRS spokesman, said the agency accepts electronically filed returns for the current season and two years prior. For this year, that means you can file returns electronically for tax years 2022, 2021, and 2020.

However, returns for 2019 “must be filed on paper, either prepared by yourself or with the help of a paid preparer,” he said.

You can do your 2019 tax return using do-it-yourself business tax software, but you’ll need to print it out and mail it to the IRS (IRS Free File, the program that gives taxpayers access to free tax software based on of your income, it can only be used for the current year’s returns, Smith said).

But if you haven’t yet filed your return for tax year 2020 or 2021, you can have a tax professional prepare and file it electronically. The IRS offers a searchable list of accredited preparers.

Mr. Smith added that the IRS was looking at “opportunities to expand electronic filing, including reviewing prior years’ electronic filing of returns.”

Here are some questions and answers about filing your 2019 tax returns:

What if I need tax documents to complete my 2019 return?

You should gather the documents soon, as it can take time to get W-2 statements and other documents before the July deadline. You can request copies of W-2 forms from your employer and statements of interest from your bank. If you can’t get the forms that way, the quickest option is to request a free “wages and income” transcript. online on IRS.gov, which displays information reported to the IRS. You may also request a written transcript by submitting Form 4506-T. However, the application can take several weeks to process, so the IRS urges people to try the other options first.

Will I get my 2019 refund if I haven’t filed tax returns for 2020 and 2021?

Your 2019 refund check may be withheld if you haven’t filed returns for 2020 and 2021, the IRS said. The refund will also apply to any amount you still owe to the IRS or a state tax agency. Refund money can also be used to offset unpaid child support or past-due federal debts, such as student loans.

Where can I find tax forms from previous years?

Current year and prior year tax forms and instructions are available online at IRS.gov Publications and Formsor by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).