News
20 area residents missing refunds
By Carol Broeder & Laura Ory/Wick Communications
More than 230 people in Cochise County are missing a check from the IRS.
About 10,861 Arizonans have undeliverable refund and economic stimulus payment checks that have been returned to the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS is currently looking for taxpayers all across the country who are missing more than 279,000 economic stimulus checks, totaling about $163 million, and more than 104,000 regular refund checks, totaling about $103 million that were returned by the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors.
"People across the country are missing tax refunds and stimulus checks," said IRS Commission Doug Shulman in a recent statement.
"We are committed to making the process as easy as possible for taxpayers to update their addresses with the IRS and get their checks."
All a taxpayer has to do is update his or her address once. The IRS will then send out all checks due.
By state law, economic stimulus checks must be mailed by Wednesday, Dec. 31, so it is crucial that address changes be registered with the IRS by Friday, Nov. 28.
The undeliverable economic stimulus checks average $583 nation-wide. For Arizonans, the average economic stimulus check is $611.
Taxpayers can visit the "Where's My Stimulus Payment?" or "Where's My Refund?" tools on the IRS website, irs.gov, check on the status of a check and update their address.
Those without Internet access should call 1-866-234-2942.
The regular refund checks that were returned to the IRS average $988. For Arizonans, the average refund amount is $1,023.
These checks are resent as soon as taxpayers update their addresses.
Taxpayers can update their addresses with the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov, which enables them to check the status of their refunds.
A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status, and the amount of refund shown on their 2007 return.
The tool provides the status of their refund and, in some cases, gives 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, where they will be given instructions on how to update their addresses.
Those not sure which type of check they may be due should check on a potential economic stimulus check first, due to next month's looming deadline.
According to the IRS, the vast majority of checks it mails out reach their rightful owner every year, with only a very small percent returned by the postal service.
Through September, the government distributed 116 million economic stimulus payments with only about 279,000 checks being undeliverable. Meanwhile, the IRS has distributed more than 105 million regular refunds this year with only about 104,000 being undeliverable, the statement said.
In both cases, fewer than one-percent of total checks were undeliverable, according to the IRS.
In addition to updating their address, it is a good reminder for taxpayers that they can have their refunds and stimulus checks delivered by direct deposit into their bank accounts, said Bill Brunson, spokesman for the IRS in Phoenix.
The direct deposit option eliminates lost or stolen checks in the mail, he said.
The IRS also encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically, as it eliminates the risk of lost paper returns. E-file also reduces errors and speeds up refunds.
The IRS has made available a list of people with undeliverable checks.
Those with a Willcox address include:
Catherine M. Alejo; Francisco R. and Armida R. Cuevas; Robert E. Dunkle; Luz Garcia; Kelly A. Hamilton; William E. and Kathryn J. Lackner; Pete Longoria; Leticia Morales; Manuel Moreno; Jack W. Rawls; Jonathan P. Schmidt; Carl C. Jr. and Evelyn M. Shores; Joshua L. and Christi L. Simon; Olivia Valdez; Charles Wagner; and Leopoldo Zenteno.
Also listed are Keith E. Faircloth of Dragoon; Jay C. Breckenridge of Elfrida; William M. Conover of McNeal; and William M. and Doddie M. Conover of McNeal.
About 10,861 Arizonans have undeliverable refund and economic stimulus payment checks that have been returned to the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS is currently looking for taxpayers all across the country who are missing more than 279,000 economic stimulus checks, totaling about $163 million, and more than 104,000 regular refund checks, totaling about $103 million that were returned by the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors.
"People across the country are missing tax refunds and stimulus checks," said IRS Commission Doug Shulman in a recent statement.
"We are committed to making the process as easy as possible for taxpayers to update their addresses with the IRS and get their checks."
All a taxpayer has to do is update his or her address once. The IRS will then send out all checks due.
By state law, economic stimulus checks must be mailed by Wednesday, Dec. 31, so it is crucial that address changes be registered with the IRS by Friday, Nov. 28.
The undeliverable economic stimulus checks average $583 nation-wide. For Arizonans, the average economic stimulus check is $611.
Taxpayers can visit the "Where's My Stimulus Payment?" or "Where's My Refund?" tools on the IRS website, irs.gov, check on the status of a check and update their address.
Those without Internet access should call 1-866-234-2942.
The regular refund checks that were returned to the IRS average $988. For Arizonans, the average refund amount is $1,023.
These checks are resent as soon as taxpayers update their addresses.
Taxpayers can update their addresses with the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov, which enables them to check the status of their refunds.
A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status, and the amount of refund shown on their 2007 return.
The tool provides the status of their refund and, in some cases, gives 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, where they will be given instructions on how to update their addresses.
Those not sure which type of check they may be due should check on a potential economic stimulus check first, due to next month's looming deadline.
According to the IRS, the vast majority of checks it mails out reach their rightful owner every year, with only a very small percent returned by the postal service.
Through September, the government distributed 116 million economic stimulus payments with only about 279,000 checks being undeliverable. Meanwhile, the IRS has distributed more than 105 million regular refunds this year with only about 104,000 being undeliverable, the statement said.
In both cases, fewer than one-percent of total checks were undeliverable, according to the IRS.
In addition to updating their address, it is a good reminder for taxpayers that they can have their refunds and stimulus checks delivered by direct deposit into their bank accounts, said Bill Brunson, spokesman for the IRS in Phoenix.
The direct deposit option eliminates lost or stolen checks in the mail, he said.
The IRS also encourages taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically, as it eliminates the risk of lost paper returns. E-file also reduces errors and speeds up refunds.
The IRS has made available a list of people with undeliverable checks.
Those with a Willcox address include:
Catherine M. Alejo; Francisco R. and Armida R. Cuevas; Robert E. Dunkle; Luz Garcia; Kelly A. Hamilton; William E. and Kathryn J. Lackner; Pete Longoria; Leticia Morales; Manuel Moreno; Jack W. Rawls; Jonathan P. Schmidt; Carl C. Jr. and Evelyn M. Shores; Joshua L. and Christi L. Simon; Olivia Valdez; Charles Wagner; and Leopoldo Zenteno.
Also listed are Keith E. Faircloth of Dragoon; Jay C. Breckenridge of Elfrida; William M. Conover of McNeal; and William M. and Doddie M. Conover of McNeal.
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