More than $495,000 in undelivered refunds waiting for Iowans

The Internal Revenue Service is looking for 555 Iowa taxpayers who have refund checks waiting for them totaling $495,001 that were returned to the IRS as undeliverable. The refund checks, averaging $894, can be sent soon as taxpayers update their addresses with the IRS.

Nationwide, 107,831 taxpayers had about $124 million in refunds returned to the IRS. The average refund is $1,148 across the country this year, compared to $990 last year. Some taxpayers are due more than one check.

Refund checks are mailed to the taxpayer's address on his/her tax return. A refund check is normally returned as undeliverable when a taxpayer moves without updating his or her address with either the U.S. Postal Service or the IRS.

“We want to make sure taxpayers get the money that's waiting for them,” said IRS Spokesperson Christopher Miller. “Maybe you got married or moved and just forgot to update your information with the IRS. Check the list. If you're on it, we want to hear from you.”

The vast majority of checks mailed out by the IRS each year reach their rightful owner. Only a very small percentage is returned by the U. S. Postal Service as undeliverable.

There are several ways for taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds. The "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. The tool will provide the status of the refund and, in some cases, provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems. Taxpayers can also access a telephone version of “Where's My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954. Taxpayers using these tools will need their social security number, filing status and amount of their 2008 refund.

The IRS also encourages taxpayers to use Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit can put an end to undelivered refunds, as well as lost or stolen refund checks. Direct Deposit is available for filers of both paper and electronic returns. Direct Deposit used in combination with IRS e-file is a safe, easy and quick way to get tax refunds.

Check the list of names for unclaimed refunds:

IRS List of Iowans with unclaimed refunds