To expedite personal income tax refunds and improve customer services, the Georgia Department of Revenue will be releasing approximately 7,500 refund checks to taxpayers whose returns were flagged for additional review.

The most common reasons for additional review include adjustments to income that significantly reduce or eliminate taxable income and undocumented or unusually large withholding amounts compared to the reported income.

Historically, refund checks on flagged returns have been held until the matter was reconciled.

"Going forward, we intend to issue the refund check on these accounts and then work with the taxpayer to clear up any questionable areas in their return," said Revenue Commissioner Bart L. Graham. "This action will significantly reduce the number of phone calls coming into the Department's refund status line and free revenue personnel to work with taxpayers on specific tax issues related to their return."

In addition to the refund check, some taxpayers will be notified in a separate mailing that their return may be reviewed in the future. The notice recommends that taxpayers review their return for the most common reasons for additional review and for overall accuracy. If they find a mistake, they are instructed to submit an amended return.

Commissioner Graham encourages taxpayers who receive or have received a department request for additional information or documentation to submit the material in a timely manner to avoid accruing any additional penalties and interest.

After the 7,500 checks are released, the department will still have approximately 11,000 flagged returns that possibly have significant errors.

The department has numerous ways to collect the taxes owed if a taxpayer fails to cooperate. Collection methods include the Treasury Offset Program with the Internal Revenue Service, liens, private collection agencies and garnishment of wages.

The department has processed 2,837,452 personal income tax returns and issued 2,450,923 refund checks for the 2005 tax-filing year. The average refund amount is $513. The department has flagged 27,537 returns this year compared to 18,674 returns during the 2004 tax-filing year.