AUGUSTA – The Internal Revenue Service is looking for hundreds of Maine taxpayers, hoping to put this year’s income tax refund checks in their hands.

In all, the IRS says 226 Mainers are owed checks totaling about $110,000.

In some cases, a taxpayer has more than one check waiting. The average amount owed to each taxpayer is $488.

The checks can be reissued as soon as taxpayers correct or update their addresses with the IRS.

“Our goal is to get this money back in the hands of the people it belongs to,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

People whose names appear on the IRS list of people owed money may visit the “Where’s My Refund?” feature on the IRS.gov Web site. The site provides taxpayers with information about their refunds. To use it, taxpayers enter their Social Security number, filing status – single or married filing jointly – and the refund amount shown on their 2004 tax return. When the information is submitted, the Web site will show the status of a refund and, in some cases, provide instructions to resolve potential account issues.

People without Internet access who think they may be missing a refund should first check their records or contact their tax preparer, then call the IRS toll-free assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 to update their address.

Generally, refund checks can go astray for a variety of reasons. Often, a life change results in a change of address. When a taxpayer moves or changes address and fails to notify the IRS or the U.S. Postal Service, a check sent to the taxpayer’s last known address is returned to the IRS.

The IRS provided this list of people living in central Maine who are owed money:

• Donald R. Damour of Auburn.

• Kyle J. Giguere of Auburn.

• Brent J. Worry of Auburn.

• Camilo A. Leiva of Bethel.

• Shanna R. Walker of Bethel.

• Chester and Kathleen Cousins of Bridgton.

• Whitney W. Ward of Bridgton.

• Eva T. Grondin of Dixfield.

• Jan A. Brinkman of Farmington.

• Ronald Burton and Cheryl Fisher-Burton of Farmington.

• April Hackiett of Farmington.

• Jackson, Janette and Anthony Tempesta of Farmington.

• Nicholas Begin of Lewiston.

• Andrew Denis of Lewiston.

• John M. Lajoie of Lewiston.

• Cindy M. Noyes of Lewiston.

• Nicole T. Simond of Lewiston.

• Jiabin Wu of Lewiston.

• Joseph T. Breton of Mechanic Falls.

• Chen, Bao Jie and Hui Qin Lin of Monmouth.

• Karen L. Shepard of Otisfield.

• David G. Belanger of Oxford.

• Albert L. Ridley of Phillips.

• Christopher A. McElmurry of Rumford.

• Mark R. Grover of Sabattus.

• Paul V. Anderson of Turner.

• Benjamin R. Small of Turner.

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