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More than 10,000 Floridians haven't collected IRS refunds

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By DALE HOKREIN

dhokrein@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2009

TAMPA - Anyone know Christopher J. Vecchione of Tampa or Stephanie A. Mckee in Westchase? If so, you can tell them the government has something for them.

More than 10,000 Floridians like these two are owed income tax refunds because the Internal Revenue Service couldn't deliver them by mail. They came back, undelivered. More than $15 million worth.

Why? The usual reasons. People move. Couples divorce. There's some kind of address change.

"In Florida, the average undeliverable refund is $1,538", said Mike Dobzinski, IRS spokesman for Florida.

In Hillsborough County, there's a total of $1.6 million waiting for 786 people. The average amount of those checks: $2,074.

That's no small change in this recession. Florida has one of the worst foreclosure rates in the United States. Nearly 12 percent of its workforce is out of a job.

Dobzinski said the bulk of the refunds are from the 2008 tax year, but some are older.

If you find your name on the list, you can get the money back by submitting Form 8822 to change your address.

Meantime, you can search the names here to find out if you or a friend has a refund coming or you can call the IRS at (800) 829-3676.

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