The IRS has announced it is holding a whopping $164.4 million dollars in unclaimed tax refunds. This particular announcement is for refunds due for the 2009 filing year. 

I complain about taxes. I am sure you, your family and friends also do as well. In fact, I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t get aggravated with how much they have to pay each year. Given this, it is rather bizarre that millions of dollars in tax refunds go unclaimed each year. 

The IRS has just released the stats for 2009 in a somewhat unenthusiastic effort to get taxpayers to come get what they are owed. 111,893 taxpayers have failed to claim their refunds. On average, that means each is leaving $1,400 plus on the table for the 2009 year. I think most people could use the money these days…particularly since it was theirs to begin with!

So, how could the IRS know who it owes refunds to, the amount owed and yet not pay them? Is this another case of the IRS being evil and not having time to do the task since it is out clubbing baby seals? No. You are going to love this. The refunds have not been delivered because people are no longer at the address they listed on their tax return for 2009 and haven’t filed an updated one. 

I don’t know about you, but I like to avoid being seen as an idiot. That being said, you can picture what is going on in approximately 111,893 conversations around the country. “That damn IRS ripped me off! They didn’t send me my tax refund!” To all those who are making such statements, it might be worth checking to see if you gave the IRS the correct, updated address information! 

So, just how do you update an address with the agency? Call 1-800-829-1954. You can get the address updated and get your refund processed. The proverbial two birds with one stone cliché!