Unlocking Hidden Tax Refunds: What NOV Employees Need to Know About Unclaimed Benefits

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for NOV The healthcare provider for NOV Inc. (formerly known as National Oilwell Varco) is typically determined by their employee health insurance plans, which can include various major insurance carriers. These providers may vary depending on the location and specific plans offered through NOV's benefits packages. Common offerings may include large insurers such as UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, or Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 As the healthcare landscape evolves, significant premium hikes for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans are anticipated in 2026, with some states projecting increases exceeding 60%. The primary drivers of these surges include rising medical costs, the potential expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies, and substantial rate increases from major insurers. The Kaiser Family Foundation warns that without congressional intervention, approximately 22 million enrollees could experience a staggering rise in out-of-pocket costs, with a potential increase of over 75% in their premiums. This combination of factors signals a challenging financial environment for healthcare consumers as they navigate impending cost fluctuations. Click here to learn more

For NOV employees, the extraordinary oil price environment of March 2026 — Brent at ~$107/barrel amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis — adds urgency to year-round tax planning, especially for those with bonus compensation, vesting events, or large capital gain decisions on the horizon.

As of March 2026, Brent crude is trading near ~$107/barrel and WTI near ~$94/barrel — up approximately 28% year-to-date — driven by Iran's rejection of U.S. peace talks and the ongoing restriction of Hormuz tanker traffic.

The energy price shock has rippled into natural gas: Henry Hub is trading near ~$2.94/MMBtu while European TTF has moved to approximately ~$16.90/MMBtu, driven partly by Iran's strikes on Gulf LNG infrastructure.

Energy sector employees at NOV navigating the Q1 2026 tax landscape should be aware that rapidly rising oil prices and heightened equity values may affect their effective tax rate, particularly as capital gains, RSU vestings, and bonus compensation align with a high-revenue quarter.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that over $1.2 billion  in tax refunds remains unclaimed and eligible for recovery. This considerable sum represents excess payments that NOV employees, among others, have not yet reclaimed for various reasons, including incomplete filing forms and the intricacies of tax regulations.

Moreover, an additional $7 billion in unclaimed funds are overlooked annually due to missed claims on earned-income tax credits, child tax credits, and recovery rebate credits for recent tax years. This highlights a pervasive issue within the tax system where employees at major corporations like NOV could miss out on substantial financial returns simply because they are unaware of or do not fully understand applicable tax laws and benefits.

For NOV employees, it’s critical to recognize that time is still on your side if you've forgotten to claim rightful credits or deductions. The IRS allows refund claims up to three years post the original filing deadline, typically April 15. Act now -- the April 15, 2026 deadline is approaching, after which unclaimed funds revert permanently to the U.S. Treasury.

At the state level, unclaimed funds are even more common. For instance, Nebraska has seen around $420 million in unclaimed property tax deductions in recent years. Similarly, in New Mexico, more than 16,000 residents failed to claim approximately $6 million in rebate credits in a recent tax year.

A significant portion of these unclaimed refunds can be attributed to taxpayers who either did not file a return or failed to update their mailing addresses with the IRS, resulting in refunds that were never delivered. The median amount of these unclaimed refunds is approximately $686 per taxpayer.

The complexity of the tax code often deters taxpayers from pursuing their entitlements, including lesser-known deductions such as those for home offices and specific benefits for owners of pass-through entities. Ryan LoRusso, a partner at Withers, mentions that even tax experts frequently overlook benefits due to the code's complexities.

Most states align with the federal April 15 deadline for filing unclaimed refund claims.  According to Lucy Dadayan from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, most states offer a three-year window to file for unclaimed refunds, mirroring the IRS.  However, filing an amended return can be both challenging and costly, as Jamie Yesnowitz, a tax principal at Grant Thornton, emphasizes. The financial and administrative burdens of filing amended returns might deter individuals, especially when the potential savings do not justify the fees.

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Strategic estate planning is crucial in this environment. Consider a person with substantial assets, such as a $3 million brokerage account and a $3 million tax-deferred retirement account, planning to distribute wealth to family and charities. Understanding the tax implications and available credits or deductions can significantly affect the financial outcome of such legacies.

In summary, the complexities of tax laws mean many potential refunds and credits go unclaimed. NOV employees need to be proactive and informed about their tax filings to optimize potential refunds and credits, enhancing their personal financial management and engaging more deeply with the broader financial and economic landscape.

NOV employees, particularly those nearing or in retirement, should also be vigilant about tax scams. During tax season, retirees are often targeted by fraudulent schemes, including fake IRS calls demanding immediate payment. The IRS warns that these calls are scams, exploiting fears about law enforcement and compliance. A report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration indicated that over $10 million was lost to such scams in the previous year, highlighting the need for increased vigilance.