Home › Federal money › IRS undelivered or lost refund checks (Where's My Refund?)

IRS undelivered or lost refund checks (Where's My Refund?)

Refund checks that were returned to the IRS as undeliverable (often because you moved) or that were lost or stolen.

Run by
Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Cost
Free

How to check and claim

  1. Check status with Where's My Refund? (the IRS refund tracker), your IRS online account, or the IRS app; you need your SSN or ITIN, filing status, tax year and exact refund amount.

  2. If you moved, update your address with the IRS (Form 8822).

  3. For a lost or stolen check, ask for a refund trace through the refund tracker or 800-829-1954 (current-year refunds, single/separate/head of household filers), or by calling 800-829-1040 or sending Form 3911 (married filing jointly).

Go to the official site.

Open official site

Claiming is free. Your state never charges a fee to search or to claim. Be careful with letters, calls or texts that ask for a fee, a percentage or your bank login to release money. Search the official state site yourself.

Other places to check

MissingMoney.com and NAUPA state unclaimed property searchU.S. savings bonds (TreasuryDirect)IRS refunds from tax returns never filed (3-year rule)NAIC Life Insurance Policy LocatorPBGC unclaimed pension searchRetirement Savings Lost and Found Database (Department of Labor)FDIC unclaimed funds from failed banksNCUA unclaimed deposits from closed credit unionsHUD/FHA mortgage insurance premium refundsVA unclaimed life insurance fundsSEC and FTC refunds from enforcement casesClass action settlements: how to check that one is real
Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.