Waiting too long to mail in a refund claim can be a costly error.

Kiplinger Tax Letter, The, September, 2000

Waiting too long to mail in a refund claim can be a costly error. A couple was due a refund, but they held off mailing their return to IRS until two days before the end of the three-year period to claim a refund. The return was received by the Service one day after the three-year limit.

Date IRS receives the refund claim controls, not the mailing date, an Appeals Court says. Couple's tardiness in filing their refund return cost them the ability to recover any overpaid tax (Anastasoff, 8th Cir.).

Another Appeals Court disagrees...allows refund if mailed timely.