$946,000 in Hawaii More than $946,000 in tax money due to Hawaii taxpayers has been returned to the Internal Revenue Service as undelivered mail, federal officials said.
tax checks unclaimed
Address changes render hundreds of
Hawaii tax rebate checks undeliverableBy B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.comThe undelivered checks include about 1,700 advance payment checks the IRS started issuing in July. Those advance payments, part of President George W. Bush's tax reform package enacted earlier this year, amount to $566,164, an average of $335 per check, the IRS said. Additionally, about 550 taxpayers expecting a refund had their checks returned. Those refunds are worth $380,376, an average of $706 per check.
"The main reason is that people have moved and haven't left a forwarding address or their forwarding address at the post office has lapsed," IRS spokeswoman Shawn N. George said yesterday.
A name change, such as for a marriage, may also cause mail to be returned, the IRS said. If an address changes and neither the IRS nor the U.S. Postal Service is notified, a check sent to the last known address will be returned to the IRS.
"All we need is a good address," IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti said. "As soon as we get the correct address, we'll start the check on its way. But for the advance payments, we need the information before Dec. 5 so we have time to reprocess the checks."
Those eligible for advance payment checks who do not receive them by year's end can claim them as a credit on their 2001 tax return, the IRS said.
Earlier this year, the agency said Hawaii taxpayers were expected to receive about $172 million in advance payment checks. Those eligible to receive the payments were notified by mail.
This is the first year advance payment checks have been mailed out.
The number of tax refunds returned from Hawaii this year is about average, George said.
Nationwide, the returned checks represent slightly more than one-third of 1 percent of the more than 85 million mailed, the IRS said.
Warnings about the need to carefully inspect mail due to anthrax apparently have not affected the receipt of IRS checks, George said, adding that she has not heard of any incidents involving such mail.
"A government check is pretty familiar, so I don't think people would be suspicious of getting one," she said.
Whom to contact for lost refunds
Taxpayers who believe they may be missing a refund or advance payment should first check their records or contact their tax preparer. If they believe their check has been returned, they can contact the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040 between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.To ensure the IRS has their correct address, taxpayers who have moved since filing their last return are urged to file a Form 8822, "Change of Address." The form can be downloaded from the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov or can be requested by calling 800-829-3676.
Source: Internal Revenue Service
State Web Site
