IRS holds hundreds of
unclaimed Hawaii refunds

---

Star-Bulletin staff

The Internal Revenue Service is sitting on merely a half a million dollars in refund checks for Hawaii taxpayers who cannot be found.

The undelivered windfall to more than 600 state residents totals $463,675. The average refund amount is about $700. All claimants need to do is update their addresses and checks will be issued.

Anyone who suspects they may have a refund due can find out at the "Where's My Refund?" section of www.irs.gov or can call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 to update their address.

"We want to get this money back to where it belongs," said IRS Acting Commissioner Bob Wenzel. "It's a simple process. As soon as taxpayers get us their correct addresses, we can reissue the checks."

Taxpayers who have moved since filing their last tax return can ensure the IRS has their correct address by filing Form 8822, "Change of Address" with the IRS. Download the form at www.irs.gov or request it by calling (800) 829-3676.