Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Millions of Americans may still be eligible for an Internal Revenue Service refund, but they must file a claim by Friday, July 10, according to National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, who warned the relief will not be granted automatically.
The deadline stems from a federal court’s November ruling in Kwong v. United States, which found the IRS should have suspended tax filing and payment deadlines during the COVID-19 national disaster declaration. Because the emergency remained in effect through May 11, 2023, taxpayers were entitled to an additional 60 days under IRS disaster relief rules, effectively extending the filing deadline to July 10, 2023, Collins explained in a recent blog post.
Don’t Miss:
Taxpayers generally have three years from the filing deadline to request a refund. As a result, eligible taxpayers now have until July 10, 2026, to file a refund claim or submit a protective claim.
Who May Qualify?
Collins said taxpayers should review their records if they were charged penalties or interest for filing or paying taxes late during the COVID disaster period, filed international information returns after the deadline, or believe they missed claiming refunds, refundable credits, withholding credits, estimated tax payment credits or other tax benefits.
“Collins also urged potentially affected taxpayers to review their records and determine whether they should file a refund claim, amended return, original return, abatement request or protective claim, depending on their circumstances.”
“However, this relief will not happen automatically,” Collins wrote. “To protect their rights, most taxpayers must file a claim for refund, generally on or before July 10, 2026.”
Trending: Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 Game‑Changing Tips Could Still Save You
Court Case Still Unsettled
Collins said taxpayers seeking refunds for penalties or interest should generally file IRS Form 843, while those correcting income, deductions, credits or filing status should file an original or amended return, including Form 1040-X where appropriate. Because the government may still appeal the ruling, taxpayers filing Form 843 should write “Protective Refund Claim Pursuant to Kwong Case” across the top of the form to preserve their rights while the litigation continues.
A protective claim preserves a taxpayer’s right to seek a refund while the legal issue is still being resolved.
Collins noted the legal dispute remains unresolved and expects the Department of Justice to appeal the decision. Still, she warned taxpayers should not wait.
“Filing a claim does not guarantee relief. But missing the deadline may permanently prevent taxpayers from receiving a refund to which they may ultimately be entitled,” she wrote.
The reminder comes as the IRS continues broader efforts to modernize taxpayer services, including expanding digital tax accounts and improving electronic filing tools while strengthening fraud prevention measures.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
FarmTogether
Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.
Immersed
Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.
Fundrise
Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.
Realberry
Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests.
Mode Mobile
Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.
EquityMultiple
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.