Sen. Carper Reveals that Over 250 Delawareans Have Unclaimed Tax Refunds

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) revealed that over 250 Delawareans are still owed a tax refund that has yet to be delivered because of mailing address errors. In Delaware, there are 269 taxpayers with undelivered refunds totaling $494,792, with an average refund of $1,839.

Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a new website that will help Delaware families determine if they’re owed a refund by the IRS. The “Where’s My Refund?” tool helps taxpayers determine the status of their refund, helps resolve refund delivery issues and gets the check delivered to the taxpayer. On the secure IRS website, taxpayers can enter their social security number, filing status, and their refund amount from their tax return to determine if it is still outstanding with the IRS. Individuals who prefer to contact the IRS via phone can do so by dialing 1-800-829-1954. Taxpayers who check their status online will receive the update within 72 hours, while individuals who mail their tax return to the IRS can expect a refund update within three to four weeks.

“In this tough economic climate, it’s important that Delaware families receive the tax refunds they’re owed by the federal government,” said Sen. Carper. “I’m pleased the IRS has made the process of collecting this cash simpler, more efficient, and more user-friendly. I encourage all Delawareans who have yet to receive their expected tax refunds to visit the IRS’ website and utilize the ‘Where’s My Refund?’ tool.”

Nationwide, the IRS owes nearly 100,000 taxpayers approximately $153.3 million in unclaimed tax refunds. The refunds have not reached their intended recipients because the information the IRS has on file does not match the actual address of the individual that is due to receive the refund.

Refund checks are mailed to a taxpayer’s last known mailing address, and returned to the IRS in the event that an individual has moved or is no longer listed at that address. If a taxpayer moves without notifying the U.S. Postal Service or the IRS, it is very possible that the refund was delivered to that individual’s previous address, and then returned to the IRS. Taxpayers can update their mailing address on the IRS website to ensure that the most current information is on file, and next year’s tax refunds will be delivered to the correct address.

Further information on this initiative can be found on the IRS’s website here.

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