$1 billion in tax refunds is sitting unclaimed: see if part of it is yours

The IRS says one million people could be leaving money on the table, and there's only one week left to claim your piece of the $1 billion pie.

The deadline to receive a tax return for 2020 is coming up and the IRS estimates 1 million people who didn't file yet may be eligible for a refund.

Caroline Chen, professor of tax at San Jose State's College of Business, told KCBS Radio the filing deadline was pushed back in 2020 and many who typically would have been entitled to a refund simply didn't file.

"2020 and then 2021, we're really still in the throes of the pandemic," she said.

There's typically a three-year statute of limitations on refunds, but for 2020 tax returns, people have a little more time than usual to file their claim for refunds. The 2020 filing deadline was pushed to May 17, due to COVID-19, making the three-year window deadline for 2020 unfiled returns May 17, 2024.

Most people will be able to file without penalty.

"The IRS is very clear. If you are due a refund, it will not penalize you," said Chen. "If you file for your 2020 tax year  now and you owe the IRS money, then it is likely that you will have a penalty."

After the May 17 deadline, the refund statute generally prevents the issuance of a refund check and the application of any credits, including overpayments of estimated taxes or withholding amounts, to other tax years that are underpaid.

The IRS estimates more than $1 billion in refunds remain unclaimed because people haven't filed their 2020 tax returns yet. For individuals who have not filed a federal income a tax return for 2020, the IRS offers tools and resources on IRS.gov .

The state-by-state list below shows how many people are potentially eligible for these refunds, and the toal potential refund amount in each state.

Alabama -- 15,200 people -- $16.8 million
Alaska -- 3,700 people -- $4.3 million
Arizona -- 25,400 people -- $26.9 million
Arkansas -- 8,700 people -- $9.3 million
California -- 88,200 people -- $94.2 million
Colorado -- 18,500 people -- $20.1 million
Connecticut -- 9,800 people -- $11.3 million
Delaware -- 3,600 people -- $4.1 million
District of Columbia -- 2,900 people -- $3.5 million
Florida -- 53,200 people -- $58.2 million
Georgia -- 36,400 people -- $39.1 million
Hawaii -- 5,200 people -- $5.9 million
Idaho -- 4,500 people -- $4.3 million
Illinois -- 36,200 people -- $40.6 million
Indiana -- 19,200 people -- $20.8 million
Iowa -- 9,600 people -- $10.6 million
Kansas -- 8,700 people -- $9.2 million
Kentucky -- 10,600 people -- $11.2 million
Louisiana -- 15,100 people -- $17.3 million
Maine -- 3,800 $923 people -- $4 million
Maryland -- 22,200 people -- $26.3 million
Massachusetts -- 21,800 people -- $25 million
Michigan -- 34,900 people -- $38.2 million
Minnesota -- 13,500 people -- $14 million
Mississippi -- 8,100 people -- $8.6 million
Missouri -- 19,500 people -- $20.8 million
Montana -- 3,400 people -- $3.6 million
Nebraska -- 4,700 people -- $5 million
Nevada -- 10,200 people -- $11.1 million
New Hampshire -- 4,200 people -- $4.9 million
New Jersey -- 24,400 people -- $27.4 million
New Mexico -- 6,500 people -- $7 million
New York -- 51,400 people -- $60.8 million
North Carolina -- 27,500 people -- $29.3 million
North Dakota -- 2,200 people -- $2.4 million
Ohio -- 31,400 people -- $32.9 million
Oklahoma -- 14,300 people -- $15.5 million
Oregon -- 15,300 people -- $15.8 million
Pennsylvania -- 38,600 people -- $43.4 million
Rhode Island -- 2,600 people -- $2.9 million
South Carolina -- 11,900 people -- $12.5 million
South Dakota -- 2,200 people -- $2.3 million
Tennessee -- 16,800 people -- $18 million
Texas -- 93,400 people -- $107.1 million
Utah -- 7,800 people -- $8.1 million
Vermont -- 1,700 people -- $1.8 million
Virginia -- 25,900 people -- $28.9 million
Washington -- 26,200 people -- $31.1 million
West Virginia -- 3,800 people -- $4.1 million0
Wisconsin -- 11,800 people -- $12.1 million
Wyoming -- 2,100 people -- $2.4 million