IRS wants to find 10,024 Floridians due refund checks worth $15 million

This is one "IRS Most Wanted" list that's nice to be on.

The Internal Revenue Service is on the hunt for 10,024 Florida taxpayers who are due refund checks, together worth more than $15 million. The checks were returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service because of mailing address errors.

Mike Dobzinski, IRS spokesman for Florida, said the average undeliverable refund is $1,538, up from $1,408 last year.

"We'd like to get this money back to taxpayers as quickly as possible," he said. "All we need is an updated address, and we can reissue the check."

Nationwide, 107,831 refunds totaling $123.5 million were returned to the IRS. Undeliverable refund checks average $1,148 this year, compared with $990 last year. Some taxpayers are due more than one check.

The IRS said several changes in tax laws, including the first-time home buyer's credit and the recovery rebate credit, probably helped boost the average undeliverable refunds by 16 percent this year nationwide.

To check on a refund, call toll-free 1-800-829-1954 or visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov and click on "Where's My Refund?"

Jeff Harrington can be reached at jharrington@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8242. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jeffmharrington.