Are you owed a state tax refund? You can check online.

Individuals and businesses in Louisiana should make sure they’ve received any tax refunds they’re owed from the state before they are declared “unclaimed property,” the state Revenue Department says.  

Nearly 23,000 Louisiana taxpayers were sent letters informing them they are owed tax refunds, state officials said Monday in a news release. They are collectively owed more than $17.5 million in state tax refunds for this year, and they have until Sept. 4 to claim their money from the revenue department. After that, their refunds will be transferred to the state treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division.

Those who received a letter about unclaimed taxes can visit the Louisiana Department of Revenue website or complete and return the voucher attached to the letter they received.

Paper checks will be issued to all taxpayers submitting claims, whether electronically or by paper voucher. 

After the Sept. 4 deadline, individuals and businesses will have to retrieve their refunds from the state treasurer’s office. It also has a searchable database for unclaimed property, which includes tax refunds, utility deposits and other money left untouched for an extended period of time.