IRS searches for 13 local residents it owes money to

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is looking for 170 Monmouth County taxpayers who can claim their share of undeliverable refund checks totaling $228,441.

There are 13 taxpayers with undelivered refunds in the Examiner's circulation area and surrounding towns, according to Gregg Semanick, spokesperson for the IRS.

"In some cases, a taxpayer has more than one check waiting," Semanick said.

Those Allentown residents who have checks waiting include William C. Jenkins, Helen M. Taylor and Gary Zangara.

Those Upper Freehold residents who have checks waiting include Luis J. Robles-Rivera, Ilia Lopez, Brianna Sulikowski, of the Cream Ridge section of the township, and Eleanor Jenkins, of the Imlaystown section.

Jennifer L. Salim, of Millstone Township, also has a check waiting.

Englishtown residents Anantha C. and Sujatha S. Krishnan, Lawrence Osowski, Barbara Lonczak and Karl Wagner also have checks waiting.

The IRS can reissue the checks, which average $1,054 apiece, after taxpayers correct or update their addresses with the IRS, according to Semanick.

Nationally, there are 95,746 taxpayers with undeliverable refunds, totaling approximately $92.2 million with an average refund of $963, according to IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

"Every year, many taxpayers miss their refunds because they move without notifying the IRS or [U.S.] Postal Service of a change of address," Everson said. "For those missing their check, the IRS is making it easier than ever for taxpayers to update their information and claim their refunds."

Taxpayers can use the "Where's My Refund?" feature on the home page of the IRS.gov Web site to learn the status of their refunds. To use it, a taxpayer must enter a Social Security number, filing status (such as single or married filing jointly) and the refund amount shown on the taxpayer's 2005 tax return, according to Semanick.

Taxpayers can access a telephone version of "Where's My Refund?" by calling 1-800-829-1954.

A taxpayer can ensure that the IRS has his or her correct address by filing Form 8822, Change of Address. The form can be downloaded from IRS.gov or requested by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Taxpayers who take advantage of direct deposit receive their refunds directly into a personal checking or savings account. Direct deposit, which guards against undelivered, stolen and lost refund checks, is available for filers of both paper and electronic returns.