Dateline: 11/14/02

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has established a Web site to help more than 96,000 taxpayers find over $80 million in undelivered tax refund checks.

By accessing the Where's My Refund Web page, taxpayers can check the status of their tax refunds through Dec. 2, 2002.

To get to their refund status, taxpayers will need to provide, via a secure online form, the following information as shown on their tax return:

• Their Social Security Number (or IRS Individual Tax Identification Number) 
• Their Filing Status, (Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow/widower) 
• The Refund amount (as reported on the return)

Taxpayers without Internet access can call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040 to check the status of their return.

Make Sure the IRS Has Your Current Address

There are many reasons that refund checks might not reach taxpayers, but it is often because a life change causes an address change. 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. The IRS will make no effort to resolve mailing address problems. 

According to the Postal Service, about 43 million Americans move each year. That’s more than 800,000 address changes each week. 

To ensure the IRS has their correct address, taxpayers who have moved since filing their last tax return are urged to file a Form 8822, "Change of Address," with the IRS. The form can be viewed, printed or downloaded -- by clicking here (Adobe PDF) --  or can be requested by calling 1-800-829-3676. (You must have the Adobe Acrobat .pdf file reader installed on your computer to work with downloaded IRS forms. Get Acrobat Here.)

• Good Book? Taxes for Dummies - 2001 Edition
Accurate and reliable in its lighthearted presentation, Taxes for Dummies includes tax-planning tips that will help you save money.