IRS Reminds Taxpayers to Use E-file and Direct Deposit to Avoid an Undelivered Refund

LOS ANGELES, CA. - The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 23 taxpayers from Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula who can claim their share of undelivered refund checks totaling over $29 Thousand. These undelivered refund checks were returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors. The IRS can reissue the checks, which average $1,289 after taxpayers correct or update their addresses with the IRS.

Nationally, there are 111,893 taxpayers with undelivered refunds, totaling $164.6 million with an average refund of $1,471.

“If you think you are missing a refund, the sooner you update your address information, the quicker you can get your money,” said Anabel Marquez, Los Angeles IRS Spokeswoman. “A taxpayer only needs to update his or her address once for the IRS to send out all checks due.”

If a refund check is returned to the IRS as undelivered, taxpayers can generally update their addresses with the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on www.irs.gov. The tool also enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A taxpayer must submit his or her Social Security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2009 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and, in some cases, instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.

Taxpayers checking on a refund over the phone will receive instructions on how to update their addresses. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.

While only a small percentage of checks mailed out by the IRS are returned as undelivered, taxpayers can put an end to lost, stolen or undelivered checks by choosing direct deposit when they file either paper or electronic returns. Taxpayers can receive refunds directly into their bank account.

The IRS also recommends that taxpayers file their tax returns electronically. E-file reduces errors on tax returns and speeds up refunds. E-file combined with direct deposit is the best option for taxpayers; it’s safe, easy and fast.

The public should be aware that the IRS does not contact taxpayers by e-mail to alert them of pending refunds and that such messages are common identity theft scams. The agency urges taxpayers not to release any personal information, reply, open any attachments or click on any links to avoid malicious code that will infect their computers. The best way for an individual to verify if she or he has a pending refund is going directly to www.irs.gov and using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.