Thousands of Iowans still have money coming from the Internal Revenue Service in the form of the economic stimulus payments and the old fashioned tax rebates. I.R.S. spokesman Christopher Miller, says it’s a big chunk of money.
Miller says more than 1,600 economic stimulus checks totaling about $897,000 and some 500 regular refund checks worth some $460,000 are waiting for Iowans to collect them. Miller says many of the refund checks were returned by the U.S. Post Office with undeliverable addresses.
Miller says both of the checks could give a good economic boost. He says the average undeliverable stimulus payment is $549 and the average regular refund is $918. Miller says some people have both checks coming to them. When it comes to regular refunds, taxpayers have to file a return and know the are getting a refund, but somehow get lost in the system.
Miller says a lot of times there are life events that people go through, such as a marriage or divorce, or moving that causes people not to update their address. Miller says it’s easy to make the change that will allow the I.R.S. to send you the money.
Miller says the best thing to do is to go to IRS.gov and click on the web tool that says “Where’s My Refund” or “Where’s My Stimulus Payment” and enter some personal information and find out the status of your check. You can also update your address on-line. You can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund” by calling 1-800-829-1954.