TECHNOLOGY TIPS – DID YOU GET YOUR RETURN FOR 2011?
Each year the Internal Revenue Service sends an annual notification of refunds that were
undeliverable. The IRS it is looking to return $153.3 million in undelivered
tax refund checks. In all, 99,123 taxpayers are due refund checks this year
that could not be delivered because of mailing address errors, which is an
average check amount of $1,547 this year.
Taxpayers who believe their refund check may have been
returned to the IRS as undelivered should use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on
IRS.gov. The tool will provide the status of their refund and, in some cases,
instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.
While only a small percentage of checks mailed out by the
IRS are returned as undelivered, taxpayers can put an end to lost, stolen or
undelivered checks by choosing direct deposit when they file either paper or
electronic returns. Last year, more than 78.4 million taxpayers chose to
receive their refund through direct deposit.
The IRS also recommends that taxpayers file their tax
returns electronically, because e-file eliminates the risk of lost paper
returns. E-file also reduces errors on tax returns and speeds up refunds. The
public should be aware that the IRS does not contact taxpayers by e-mail to
alert them of pending refunds and does not ask for personal or financial
information through email.
CATHY MALLERS &
DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
