Stimulus check claims still pending?

For stimulus check information:

Visit IRS.gov or call 1-866-234-2942

For regular refund check information:

Visit IRS.gov or call 1-800-829-1954

In Texas, taxpayers have yet to claim more than $19 million worth of economic stimulus checks, according to the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service due to mailing address errors returned $8 million of regular refund checks.

Nationwide, economic stimulus checks totaling about $163 million remain unclaimed and regular refund checks totaling about $103 million were returned to the IRS.

"Just a simple address update will allow the IRS to get this money into the hands of its owners," said Lea Crusberg, IRS spokesperson.

Taxpayers who may be due a stimulus check must update their addresses with the IRS by Nov. 28. By law, economic stimulus checks must be sent out by Dec. 31 of this year. The undeliverable economic stimulus checks average $583.

To check the status of a stimulus check and receive instructions on how to update your address the agency recommends visiting the "Where's My Stimulus Payment?" tool on IRS.gov. Taxpayers without Internet access should call 1-866-234-2942.

The regular refund checks that were returned to the IRS average $897 in Texas. These checks are resent as soon as taxpayers update their address.

A taxpayer must submit his or her social security number, filing status and amount of refund shown on their 2007 return. The tool will provide the status of their refund and in some cases provide instructions on how to resolve delivery problems.

Taxpayers checking on a refund over the phone will be given instructions on how to update their addresses. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of "Where's My Refund?" by calling 1-800-829-1954.

For those unsure which type of check they may be due the IRS recommends first checking on a potential economic stimulus because of the rapidly approaching deadline.

To avoid future problems the IRS recommends taxpayers filing returns choose direct deposit as the surest way to eliminate the risk of lost, stolen or undeliverable checks.

Separately, the IRS generally does not send e-mails to taxpayers. However, the agency is cautioning taxpayers to be aware of scams using the IRS name in identity theft e-mails.