IRS is holding checks for five area residents

Some Quay County residents could be eligible for an an unclaimed IRS refund or economic stimulus payment from the government.
The IRS has a list of five residents in Quay County who have a tax refund or stimulus check that were undeliverable.

The five are Randy and Willa Callaway of McAlister and Andrew Hittson, Jim McCord, Cristina Porter and Donald and Bertha Seunt Jens, all of Tucumcari.

The Quay County Sun tried to find the individuals, but only one person could be located and he did not return phone calls.

There are 2,771 residents in New Mexico whose checks could not be delivered, said Bill Brunson, IRS Media Relations.

"The U.S. Post Office returned the refunds and stimulus checks to the IRS marked as undeliverable," Brunson said.

The total amount of money being held for New Mexico residents totals $1,875,483, Brunson said.

A tax refund is money returned to a taxpayer based on his or her tax filing.

In January 2008 President George W. Bush approved a $140 billion stimulus program to boost the economy.

Checks were issued in the amount of up to $600 to individuals and up to $1,200 to couples who filed their income tax returns.

"This is an ongoing issue for the IRS," Brunson said. "Most of the time it is due to people not providing a current address to the IRS after they have moved."

Brunson said that people can check the IRS Web Site to see if there is a refund or stimulus payment being held for them.

“People across the country are missing tax refunds and stimulus checks. We want to get this money into the hands of taxpayers where it belongs,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman in an IRS press release. “We are committed to making the process as easy as possible for taxpayers to update their addresses with the IRS and get their checks.”

It is crucial that taxpayers who may be due a stimulus check update their addresses with the IRS by Nov. 28, 2008, Brunson said. By law, economic stimulus checks must be sent out by Dec. 31 of this year.

Nationwide, the average undeliverable economic stimulus check totals $583. For New Mexicans, the average check is $600, according to the release.

The average refund check that was returned to the IRS was $988. For New Mexicans, the average returned check amount is $803.
For additional information and listing of refund and stimulus checks being held, you can check the IRS Web site at www.IRS.gov. Taxpayers without internet access can call 1-866-234-2942.