MONEY: UNDELIVERABLE IRS CHECKS AWAIT SOME

Surprises from the Internal Revenue Service generally are not good. But Southeast Missouri State University student Megwyn Sanders was the recipient of a rare positive surprise from the government agency this week.

She learned they owe her money -- a tax refund that the post office was unable to deliver.

The IRS reports they are currently holding over 1,200 refunds that went undelivered across Missouri last tax season.

Sanders changed residences within Cape Girardeau in June and, like many people, forgot about her refund.

"I didn't know I didn't get it," said the 22-year-old theater major. "It wouldn't surprise me if this happens to a lot of college students as they change locations from the dorm to apartment, and from apartment to apartment. College students move around a lot."

The Southeast Missourian informed Sanders that her name appears on an IRS list of 1,203 Missourians who are due income tax refunds totaling $638,304. The average refund waiting for those on the list is $531, the IRS reports.

Janice Lawrence, the IRS media relations specialist for Missouri and Kansas, confirmed that having a highly mobile population in a community -- such as college students or seasonal workers -- tends to increase the amount of refunds the post office deems undeliverable.

"On a federal check, if they don't have a good forwarding address, they will not forward it. They send them back to us as undeliverable," she said.

Every year, the number of unclaimed refunds decreases by about 10 percent due to increased requests for direct deposit returns, she added.

Those on the list may call 800-TAX-1040 (829-1040) to claim the cash.

But, as is the case with many processes involving the IRS, don't expect the reclamation process to be painless.

Sanders reported that the automated service asked her for information including the amount of the refund and her filing status, information that she'll have to check on and call back later.

Unclaimed Tax Refunds

Unclaimed federal tax refunds await taxpayers in Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott counties.

Cape Girardeau:

Salvador Alvarez, Nell A. Ditch, Lana Gilwater, Craig A. Jackson, George Johnson Jr., Johnny E. Nimmo Jr., Brannon A. Roberts, David H. Townsend, Jayson L. Williams, Angie Schwab, and Glenn E. Wright Jr.

Jackson:

Lea-ana R. Beauchamp, Lowell & Sharron L. Delashmutt, Daniel A. Leon, Alicia D. Priest, Melba K. Pringle, and Jeff S. & Kimberly M. Rogers.

Perryville:

Harold B. & Margie J. Amberger, Sarah E. Baughman, Samantha J. Clifton, Marian Ferrell, Ronald & April Stampe Girdon, Gregory M. Naegler, and Matthew W. Schmidt.

Sikeston:

James A. Burchfield, Timothy D. Randle, and Natasha L. West.

Benton:

Christopher A. Moore, Gregory H. Morgan, and Harold E. Wheetley.

Fruitland:

Shawn C. Hanna

Advance:

William J. Caldwell