NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Internal Revenue Service is holding onto tens of millions of dollars in tax refunds that it hasn't been able to deliver to consumers.
A total of 99,123 taxpayers are still owed refunds this year but haven't received them due to mailing address errors, the IRS said. That amounts to a total of $153.3 million in unclaimed refunds.
While this is a small percentage of total refunds -- less than 0.01% -- the taxpayers impacted are missing out on some serious cash, with the average refund check valued at $1,547.
To avoid missing a refund in the mail, the IRS recommends that taxpayers opt for direct deposit of their returns when they file their taxes.
If you did opt to have a refund check mailed to you this year, you can check the status of your refund and resolve delivery issues by using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website.
If you don't check the site, you may have no idea that the IRS has been trying to send you your money. The agency does not contact taxpayers by e-mail or phone when it is unable to deliver a refund check. 
What measures -- spending cuts, tax hikes, or both -- are needed to tame the budget deficit? Money magazine looks at how we got here and how big our debt really is.
Politicians are arguing fiercely over the proper size of the government. Money magazine looks at the facts -- how much we spend and what we spend it on.
| Overnight Avg Rate | Latest | Change | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 yr fixed | 3.80% | 3.80% | |
| 15 yr fixed | 3.09% | 3.11% | |
| 5/1 ARM | 2.65% | 2.69% | |
| 30 yr refi | 3.77% | 3.86% | |
| 15 yr refi | 3.09% | 3.21% |
Today's featured rates:
FedEx's Fred Smith did 2 tours of duty in Vietnam as a Marine. Meet 10 Fortune 500 executives who served in the U.S. military. More
Group of farmers in southern Kansas pool their land to more than double their money from an oil company for their mineral rights. Play
Here are some hot tips if you're going out car-shopping this weekend. More
This 150-square-foot home can be shipped anywhere and then assembled like Ikea furniture. More
Many Class of 2012 grads find themselves without work. But those who landed jobs say internships are key. More
.
