A little-known court ruling could mean that millions of Americans are still owed money by the IRS—and many don’t even realize it.

If you paid tax penalties or interest during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a chance you could recover some of that money. But there’s a catch: the window to claim it may close soon. For most eligible taxpayers, the deadline to take action is July 10, 2026.

That means time is limited, and those who don’t act could permanently miss out on refunds that, in some cases, could add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

So what changed—and how do you know if you qualify? Let’s find out!