Channel 6 News has uncovered information showing almost 4,000 people in our viewing area are owed tax refunds from 2002.

Internal Revenue Service records show over $4 million in tax refunds is sitting in the U.S. Treasury Department waiting for thousands to file and get the returns they're owed.

The reason is, taxpayers didn't file their 2002 tax return. IRS officials say many of them thought they didn't make enough money to file. In order to get a refund, persons must file a 2002 return no later than April 17 or that money becomes property of the Treasury Department.

Here's the breakdown county by county (IRS Estimate):

In Bedford County: 237 people are owed $274,205.

In Blair County: 613 people are owed $708,464.

In Cambria County: 724 people are owed $837,129.

In Centre County: 644 people are owed $744,748.

In Clearfield County: 396 people are owed $457,421.

In Elk County: 167 people are owed $192,619.

In Huntingdon County: 216 people are owed $250,078.

In Jefferson County: 218 people are owed $251,976.

In Somerset County: 380 people are owed $438,994.

If you didn't file your 2002 taxes and want to see if you're eligible for this return, you have several options. Go to the wjac.com homepage and click on the "As Mentioned" link, or call 1-800-TAX-FORM. For general questions, call the IRS Help Line at 1-800-829-1040.

For those who owe money like child support, back taxes, or school loans, the refund money will go towards those debts first.