The IRS wants to give you money.Don't blink: It's true. The country's chief collector of taxes is looking for nearly 1,000 people statewide owed more than $1.2 million. In New London County alone, 87 people had refund checks returned because of mailing address errors, totaling more than $288,000.

Don't blink: It's true. The country's chief collector of taxes is looking for nearly 1,000 people statewide owed more than $1.2 million. In New London County alone, 87 people had refund checks returned because of mailing address errors, totaling more than $288,000.New London County's average refund of $3,319 was three times more than the average for the rest of the country and the highest by far of any county in Connecticut.

New London County's average refund of $3,319 was three times more than the average for the rest of the country and the highest by far of any county in Connecticut. The IRS had no explanation for the region's relative good fortunes, though a spokesman said it could be that one large refund threw the numbers off.

The IRS had no explanation for the region's relative good fortunes, though a spokesman said it could be that one large refund threw the numbers off."The IRS makes it easy for taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds," said IRS spokesman Gregg Semanick in a statement.

"The IRS makes it easy for taxpayers to update their addresses and claim their refunds," said IRS spokesman Gregg Semanick in a statement.IRS spokesman David Stewart said those whose names appear on the IRS's list of undelivered refund checks can call the IRS at 1-(800) 829-1954 or use the "Where's My Refund?" tool at www.IRS.gov.

IRS spokesman David Stewart said those whose names appear on the IRS's list of undelivered refund checks can call the IRS at 1-(800) 829-1954 or use the "Where's My Refund?" tool at www.IRS.gov.Undelivered checks nationwide averaged nearly $1,150 this year compared to $990 last year. The 16 percent increase in average refunds corresponds with the increase in average refunds nationally for 2008, spurred by several changes in tax law, including the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, the IRS said.

Undelivered checks nationwide averaged nearly $1,150 this year compared to $990 last year. The 16 percent increase in average refunds corresponds with the increase in average refunds nationally for 2008, spurred by several changes in tax law, including the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, the IRS said.Stewart said most people who reclaim their tax refunds do so thanks to relatives and friends who see their names on the IRS list after the claimants move away from an area. He said many of these missing checks would be avoided by e-filing or even paper filing, if taxpayers would request direct deposit of their funds.

Stewart said most people who reclaim their tax refunds do so thanks to relatives and friends who see their names on the IRS list after the claimants move away from an area. He said many of these missing checks would be avoided by e-filing or even paper filing, if taxpayers would request direct deposit of their funds.Stewart said most funds are eventually returned to taxpayers, though he didn't have an exact percentage. He said refunds can be added to a subsequent tax year's tax return, but the IRS would rather citizens receive the money sooner.

Stewart said most funds are eventually returned to taxpayers, though he didn't have an exact percentage. He said refunds can be added to a subsequent tax year's tax return, but the IRS would rather citizens receive the money sooner."It's your money," he said.

"It's your money," he said.After a period of time, he said, unclaimed refunds are set aside in a special category, though they are considered to be a taxpayer's property forever. It's possible, however, that the government could apply the unclaimed refund to an unpaid federal student loan.

After a period of time, he said, unclaimed refunds are set aside in a special category, though they are considered to be a taxpayer's property forever. It's possible, however, that the government could apply the unclaimed refund to an unpaid federal student loan."Taxpayers should not miss out on getting their money back," said IRS spokesman Semanick. "The sooner you update your address information, the quicker you can get your refund."

"Taxpayers should not miss out on getting their money back," said IRS spokesman Semanick. "The sooner you update your address information, the quicker you can get your refund."l.howard@theday.com

l.howard@theday.com

UNCLAIMED IRS REFUNDS BY COUNTY

County Number Avg. Refund Total Refunds

Fairfield 256 $847 $216,945

Hartford 274 $1,173 $320,106

Litchfield 40 $1,058 $32,303

Middlesex 45 $1,053 $47,385

New Haven 207 $1,345 $277,138

New London 87 $3,319 $288,790

Tolland 27 $392 $10,582

Windham 33 $844 $28,279

TOTAL 969 $1,275 $1,231,528

Source: IRS

WHO IS OWED MONEY

Colchester

COSTELLO, KELLY A

GUO, ZHEN NIAN & MEI RONG ZHENG

SAVITSKY, LUDWIG S & MARGARET

East Lyme

HELMBOLDT, MARK & LYNN

Groton

CUBELLIS, ROBERT V JR

ELSASSER, KYLE T

GRAF, COY M

HEBERT, COLLIN J

LEGNOS, GEORGE

OZUNA, LAWRENCE H

PAYNE, MAY E

RUDDY, LESLIE M

ST CHARLES, STEVEN W

WALSH-GOSKOWSKY, S

ZINGUS, MATILDA

Jewett City

BRUDERMANN, ALEXANDRA R

HODGE, JOSHUA N

Lebanon

ROUSSEAU-SEILHAMMER, MARYANN

WILLIAMS, ROBERT DUKE

Ledyard

SEBASTIAN, DONALD R

Mashantucket

KING, REBECCA G & JOHN W

Mystic

MORNEAULT, M RONALD & JODY

RAGONESE, ANTONINO & TATYANA

New London

AGUIAR CRUZ, LUZ

ALVAREZ LOPEZ, CARMEN

ARENAS CUPELES, EMMA

BECK, RYAN T

BURGOS, HENRY

CAMACHO CRESPO, EDWIN

COPPOTELLI, SEBASTIAN S

CRESPO CRUZ, BERNARDINO

CRUZ NIEVES, GLADYS

FANGSUWANNARAK, MANATCHAI

GARCIA CRUZ, JAYSON

GARCIA VAZQUEZ, MILAGROS

HERNANDEZ DE JESUS, SANDRA

ITIN, MARINA

JIMENEZ GONZALEZ, ELAINE

LAJARA MARTINEZ, MARIA

LAMAR, BARBARA F

MELENDEZ BURGOS, MIGDALIA

MOORE, LESSIE

NIEVES CRUZ, DAMARIS

OTERO AMADOR, MIGUEL

PAGAN, JASHIRA

PAREDES CRUZ, WANDA

PEREZ, PABLO

PICONE, LISA M

PORTER, JASON A

PRIETO, HERMINIA

SANTALIZ CUEBAS, ALANA

SERRANO CRUZ, MILAGROS

STARKEY, DONALD R

TORRES CUBA, FLOR

TORRES NEGRON, MIGADALIA

TRABAL CRESPO, MARIA

VEGA ROSADO, MILAGROS

Niantic

GUPTE, VIABHAV

LAHOTTE, STEVEN

REARDON, PAULINE F

SCHENK, DAISY

North Stonington

SMITH, JOSHUA T

Norwich

ARBIETO MOLINA, SABINA

BASS, JOHN W & MARLYN SR

BECKWITH, SHEILA H

CHACON, JOHANNA E

GREENE, TAJ L

GREENHALTH, DOUGLAS

GRIMES, ANDREW S

HILL, TYRONE E JR

JACKMAN, DONALD R

JAMES, MATT

LANE, CHRISTOPHER M

MARCOS SANTIAGO, LETICIA

QUINN, JAMES J & KIMBERLY S

ROBERTS, SHANE A

Old Lyme

BUCCHERI, SEBASTIANO & ROSA I

Pawcatuck

GOODWIN, MICHAEL D JR

SATON ELLIS, HOPE T

Salem

CANTIN, AMANDA L

LEE, MYONG J

Stonington

CASTALDI, FLORENCE A

MISIOREK, THOMAS & LOUISE

Uncasville

FELTER, SCOTT N

KINCADE, AUDREY I

Voluntown

JOHNSON, SCOTT

Waterford

HEWITT, RICHARD C