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IRS: $1.4 million In Undelivered Minn. Refunds

By John Lauritsen, WCCO-TV

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- If you've moved since you last filed your taxes, or changed your name, the IRS may have a check with your name on it.

The IRS says the average Minnesotan on its lost refund list is owed about $1,000.

"One thing that we have noticed this year is that here in Minnesota the refund checks are about $79 bigger, on average, than they were last year," said IRS spokesperson, Carrie Resch.

The problem is the IRS can't get in touch with the more than 1,200 Minnesota taxpayers they owe money to.

The IRS said marriages, divorces, students moving on- and off-campus, and just simple life changes makes it hard to get a hold of the taxpayers. Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe even has a check waiting for him.

The way to find out if you have money coming your way, is to go to www.irs.gov and use the "Where's My Refund?" tool.

"Sometimes it's a few dollars and sometimes it can be thousands of dollars. Whatever it is, a lot of times people get reunited with their money and it makes them smile," said Resch.

 To avoid future problems, the IRS recommends using direct deposit for your refund. They also recommend filing your taxes electronically.

Click here to see a PDF that could tell you if you're someone who has an unclaimed refund from the IRS.

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