Question #1: How long does it take to get a refund from the IRS?
If you e-file and use the direct deposit option then you could receive your refund within three weeks. However, if you went the paper route it could take upwards of eight weeks. If you want to know exactly when to expect your money, you can track your refund on the IRS's Where's My Refund page.
Question #2: What is the statute of limitations on Federal income taxes owed?
Generally speaking, the IRS statute of limitations is 10 years. However, there are a number of ways the IRS can get past this limit. According to IRS.gov “the IRS generally must collect the tax owed within 10 years after the assessment of the tax. Depending on the taxpayer, the assessment of tax may be the date a taxpayer files a tax return with a balance owing or the date the IRS files a tax return on behalf of a non-filer taxpayer. Thus, the statute of limitations will begin once the tax liability has been ‘assessed’ by the IRS.”