IRS seeking thousands due tax refunds

WASHINGTON – The IRS has more than $73 million in tax refunds for thousands of taxpayers whose checks were returned to the tax agency as undeliverable.

“If we owe you money, we’d like to get it to you,” IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said Monday. “All you have to do is tell us where you are.”

Only a tiny percentage of tax refunds don’t reach their destination. When they don’t, it’s often because the taxpayer changed a name or address after a move, a marriage or a divorce. The checks returned to the IRS are destroyed, but a record of the refund remains in the taxpayer’s file.

The IRS can issue a new check when the taxpayer notifies the agency of a new address or when the taxpayer files the next year’s return from the new address.

More than 87,000 checks were returned to the IRS this year, worth more than $73 million.

Anyone unsure whether they’re due a refund can use an interactive tool on the IRS Web site to find out. The tool asks for the taxpayer’s Social Security Number, filing status and refund amount to track down a check.

Anyone due a refund can claim it through their tax preparer or by calling (800) 829-1040. Alternatively, taxpayers can file Form 8822 to notify the IRS of a new address.

Individuals can avoid the problem by directing the IRS to deposit a refund directly into a personal checking or savings account, an option available to those who file paper and electronic returns. More than 49 million people chose that option this year.