Nearly $120,000 in unclaimed tax refunds are waiting for 42 taxpayers from Lorain County, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS needs help in locating those individuals who may have moved or had other reasons for not getting their refund checks, according to IRS spokesman Eric Erickson.

“It’s not their fault — for whatever reason the check was not delivered,” Erickson said.

In all, he said the IRS is looking for more than 2,500 taxpayers in Ohio and West Virginia who are due to receive a combined $2.5 million in refunds.

These checks were returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service due to errors with the mailing address or because people had moved without forwarding addresses, he said.

“We want taxpayers in Ohio and West Virginia to get this money as soon as possible,” Erickson said. “This money belongs to them, so if anyone thinks they are missing a tax refund, take a few minutes to go on IRS.gov or call the toll-free IRS refund hot line.”

Those who call can help expedite the process by having their social security number, the filing method (single or joint return) and/or the amount of the expected refund at their fingertips, he said.

“The media is the primary way we get the word out that they are on the list and have money waiting on them,” Erickson said.

Most of the refund checks are from 2008, Erickson said. All a taxpayer has to do is update his or her address once. The IRS will then send out all checks due.

Undeliverable refund checks for Ohio taxpayers average $919. The average refund amount is significantly higher than last year. Several changes in tax law likely played a role in boosting refunds, including the First-Time Homebuyer’s Credit and the Recovery Rebate Credit, among others.

Taxpayers can update their addresses with the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the right side of the home page for the agency’s Web site, www.irs.gov.

The tool enables taxpayers to check the status of their refunds. A taxpayer must submit his or her Social Security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2008 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and in some cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.

Taxpayers checking on a refund over the phone will be given instructions on how to update their addresses. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling (800) 829-1954.

Refund checks are waiting for the following individuals who lived in Lorain County at the time they filed tax returns:

• Hoffman, Margaret E.
• Walter, Jacob C.
• Yoworsky, Jennie
• Fritz, John
• Odonnell, Erin C.
• Soucek, Sylvia F.
• Beavers, Amber
• Braye, R. D. and Anita Roberts-Braye
• Connor, Nancy L.
• McCants, Jamie
• Redilla, Jack A and Diana G.
• Tlapalamatl Huerta, Eduardo
• Adams, Crystal L.
• Brown, Jeanne E.
• Culley, Patricia
• Hoagland, Margaret
• Hubbell, Mary Jane
• Krugman, Ronald J.
• Marrero, Amanda L.
• May, Tyler J.
• Nevils, Shawn D.
• Nichols, Nathan E.
• Pack, William
• Robinson, Randy and Lynn
• Stadtmiller, Richard D.
• Tisler, John V and Deborah L.
• Schrambeck, Michael J.
• Jason, Sarah C.
• Barger, James
• Carlton, Antwaun L.
• Ellis, Deandre R.
• Kilbride, Olivia L.
• Rivera, Christina L.
• Taylor, Larry
• Torres, Roberto L.
• Dutko, Joseph A.
• Hart, Timothy J.
• Piazza, Gene L. and Diane L. Jr.
• Allen, William
• Schlawin, Everett A.
• Dayton, David
• Simmons, Donna

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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