Tax refunds fail to be delivered

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 8:48 a.m.

The Internal Revenue Service this year has received nearly $2.7 million worth of undeliverable refund and rebate checks for Nevadans, the agency said.

Through October, the agency has received from the U.S. Postal Service 5,000 of its issued rebate checks averaging $326 per taxpayer, or $1,630,000, and 1,200 of its issued refunds averaging $880 per check, or $1,056,000. That's $2,686,000 in unclaimed money.

"We urge taxpayers to act quickly on the advance payment checks (rebates) and contact us by Dec. 5 so we will have time to process them," said William Brunson, spokesman for the IRS regional office in Phoenix.

An estimated 390,000 Americans are owed $183.5 million, which is sitting in IRS regional offices around the country.

To date, 295,000 rebate checks worth $95 million have been returned. The rebate checks average $322 per taxpayer nationwide, and the refunds average $927 per check nationwide.

"All we need is a good address," IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti said.

Brunson said taxpayers who are owed a refund and did not file by the April deadline this year can still file a tax return. No penalties will be assessed, and filers will be eligible for rebates.

Las Vegans who have not received a refund or a rebate check this year and believe they are owed refunds or rebates can make an inquiry at the IRS' "Problem Solving Day," which is Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Las Vegas IRS office at 4750 W. Oakey Blvd.

Appointments can be scheduled toll-free at (800) 829-1040. IRS officials at that number also can track down undelivered rebates and refunds.