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Hernando Today

The IRS is looking for 30 local taxpayers

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: November 7, 2009

The Internal Revenue Service has $42,268 in refund checks ready to give to 30 Hernando County taxpayers.

These checks were returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors.

The average refund for these local residents is $1,409.

Statewide, the IRS has 10,024 taxpayers due refund checks worth more than $15 million.

"We'd like to get this money back to taxpayers as quickly as possible," said Mike Dobzinski, IRS spokesman for Florida. "All we need is an updated address and we can reissue the check."

Nationwide, the average undeliverable refunds rose by 16 percent this year. The IRS said several changes in tax law likely played a role in boosting refunds, including the first-time homebuyer's credit and the recovery rebate credit.

In Florida, the average undeliverable refund is $1,538. Last year, the average was $1,408.

Nationwide, 107,831 refunds totaling $123.5 million were returned to the IRS. Undeliverable refund checks average $1,148 this year, compared to $990 last year. Some taxpayers are due more than one check.

Dobzinski said refund checks go astray for various reasons. Many times it's because a life change - such as a marriage or divorce - causes an address change. If taxpayers move and do not notify the IRS or the U.S. Postal Service, a check sent to their last known address is returned to the IRS.

Dobzinski said taxpayers can avoid undeliverable tax refunds by choosing to have their refunds deposited directly into a bank account. Direct deposit guards against undelivered, lost or stolen refund checks. It's available for both paper and e-filed returns.

Taxpayers can find out if they are due a tax refund by visiting the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov and clicking on "Where's My Refund."

To use this feature, enter information from the 2008 tax return including the Social Security number, filing status and refund amount. Taxpayers will get the status of their refund check and in some cases also get instructions to resolve potential account problems.

Taxpayers can also check on the status of the refund by calling 1-800-829-1954. Taxpayers checking on a refund by phone will be given instructions on how to update their address.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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