(Alexandria, VA) – Whether it’s tohelp pay holiday bills or help start investment plans for the New Year, alittle extra cash right now could mean a lot. That’s why it really can pay tocheck out the online Tax Refund Finder, provided as a free public service on theNational Taxpayers Union’s (NTU’s) website at www.ntu.org.This is the 11th year NTU has maintained the consumer-friendlydatabase, designed to be a quicker and easier way to obtain basic information onan undelivered tax refund than the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) version.
“Hard-working Americans shouldclaim every dollar of a tax refund they’re legally due,” said NTU ExecutiveVice President Pete Sepp. “Our database at www.ntu.orgis a handy tool for tracking down any ‘missing’ money that may be waiting forthem at the IRS.”
Despite increases in electronicfiling and direct deposit options, each year thousands of federal income taxrefund checks are returned to the IRS as undeliverable because the taxpayer hasmoved, changed his or her name, or simply because the check has an incompleteor improper address. Over 99,000 taxpayers have checks coming to them from2011, a decline of more than 11 percent compared to the number of refunds thatwere issued in 2010. However, the average value of each check is $1,547, roughlya 5 percent jump versus 2010.
The NTUdatabase is designed to provide the maximumflexibility of search options (by name, tax year, or state), so users can findrefunds that may be in limbo because of the problems described above. If theyhave a refund to claim, taxpayers are directed to the IRS’s website ortoll-free number, where they can securely arrange to receive their money.Although the IRS’s website also has an interactive refund feature, the agencyrequires taxpayers to provide information that makes it challenging to use forcitizens who aren’t sure whether they have a refund coming, or who can’tremember how much it might be. And, NTU’s database allows users to check onwhether refunds might be available for friends or loved ones (who would in turnneed to follow up with the IRS).
“An undelivered tax refund may be‘found money’ but it certainly isn’t ‘free money,’” Sepp concluded. “A checkfrom the IRS represents an overpayment that someone has made to the U.S.government. NTU’s Refund Finder is dedicated to making sure these overpaymentsget back to where they belong – in the hands of taxpayers.”
The 362,000-member NTU was foundedin 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and taxpayer rights at alllevels. Note: The Refund Finder isavailable at www.ntu.org. The databasemay be accessed directly by going to www.ntu.org/tax-basics and clicking on the “Does the IRS Owe YouMoney?” icon.