IRS has money for more than 4,000 Georgia taxpayers

An average refund of $1,082 is waiting for more than 4,000 Georgia tax payers whose refund checks have been returned to the Internal Revenue Service as undeliverable.

The checks, worth a total of $4.3 million, can be claimed as soon as their owners update their addresses with the IRS. In some cases, a taxpayer has more than one check waiting.

"Our web site makes it easy for taxpayers to track undelivered refund checks," IRS spokesman Mark Green said. "Our goal is to get this money back in the hands of the people it belongs to as quickly as possible. As soon as we get the correct address, we'll start the check on it way."

"Taxpayers can update their addresses and claim their refunds online or by phone" said Green.

Taxpayers can use the "Where's My Refund?" feature on the home page of the IRS.gov web site to learn the status of their refunds. To us it, a taxpayer must enter a Social Security number, filing status (such as single or married filing jointly) and the refund amount shown on the taxpayer's 2006 tax return. When the information is submitted, "Where's My Refund?" will display the status of a refund and, in some cases, provide instructions on how to resolve potential account issues.

Taxpayers can access a telephone version of "Where's My Refund?" by calling 1-800-829-1954.

How to update an address

with the IRS

"Where's My Refund?" now has an online mailing address update feature for taxpayers whose refund checks were returned to IRS. If an undeliverable check was originally issued within the past 12 months, the taxpayer will be prompted online to provide an updated mailing address. The address update feature is only available to taxpayers using the web version of "Where's My Refund?" Taxpayers with undelivered refund checks who access "Where's My Refund?" by phone will receive instructions on next steps. Individuals whose refunds were not returned to IRS as undeliverable cannot update their mailing addresses through the "Where's My Refund?" service.

A taxpayer can also ensure the IRS has his or her correct address by filing Form 8822, Change of Address. Download the form from IRS.gov or request it by calling 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676).

To put an end to undelivered refunds, taxpayers can take advantage of Direct Deposit. Taxpayers who choose this service receive their refunds directly into a personal checking or savings account. Direct Deposit, which also guards against theft or lost refund checks, is available for filers of both paper and electronic returns.