PROVIDENCE – Rhode Islanders, the Internal Revenue Service wants to give you your money back … really.
This year, 445 refund checks worth $977,306 were returned to the agency due to mailing address errors. Returned checks are a typical occurrence at the agency, and last year had a similar total, according to Peggy Riley, spokesperson for the IRS.
“We want Rhode Island taxpayers to get this money as soon as possible,” said Riley. If you are missing your check, you can either visit IRS.gov or call the hotline, (800) 829-1954.
The average check is $2,196 this year, compared with $930 last year. Riley noted that many taxpayers benefited from tax credits through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Nevertheless, unclaimed refund checks do not go to waste. The funds sit in the taxpayer’s account until next year, when a new tax return form is filed, Riley said.
In Providence County, 354 taxpayers have returned refund checks for an average of $2,541.
Other counties had smaller numbers of returned checks: Bristol has 12 checks averaging $1,104; Washington has 24 returned checks for an average refund of $1,013; Newport has 24 checks for an average of $845; and Kent has 31 checks averaging $641.
The IRS also added that it encourages taxpayers to use direct deposit and to file their tax returns electronically.
To find your refund, go to IRS.gov and update your address under “Where’s My Refund?” or call (800) 829-1954.
