Taxpayers Reminded to Cash Tax Refund Checks Sooner Rather Than Later

Your uncashed check might be more difficult to cash after it hits the unclaimed property program.

Photo courtesy: telecommunitycu.com

(SALEM) - Did you receive an Oregon income tax refund check in the past couple of years that you still haven't cashed? If so, the Oregon Department of Revenue reminds you to cash it—soon.

State law requires the Department of Revenue to send, after two years, unclaimed tax refunds to the Department of State Lands' unclaimed property program.

"You can still collect your refund after two years," said the revenue department's Financial Manager J.P. Jones, "but it's much easier if you cash your refund check before we have to turn the funds over to the state's unclaimed property program."

Last year, the Department of Revenue turned over $560,000 in unclaimed tax refunds to the Department of State Lands.

If you want to cash your refund check but discover it is lost or destroyed, contact the Department of Revenue. The agency can issue another check. Visit their website, www.oregon.gov/DOR, or call 1-800-356-4222 (toll-free from an Oregon prefix), or 503-378-4988 (Salem).

If it's been longer than two years, visit the Oregon Department of State Lands website, www.oregonstatelands.us. Click on "Unclaimed Property."