How to Fill Out IRS Form 3911

IRS Form 3911, entitled "Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund," is sent by the IRS to taxpayers who have made an inquiry as to the status of their tax refunds. The form helps taxpayers understand why they did not receive refunds as expected. If the IRS determines that your refund check was not cashed, it will send you a replacement check. If you do not receive a response to Form 3911 within six weeks, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954.

Download IRS Form 3911 from the Internal Revenue Service website. Generally, taxpayers do not initiate the completion of Form 3911; instead, the IRS fills out the top part of the form and sends it to taxpayers to complete and return. The form is, however, available online for viewing by interested parties.

Read the top part of the form; the IRS has filled in information in response to your refund inquiry. The IRS notes the date of your refund inquiry, the federal tax return year in question, what date a refund was sent, the refund check number and whether the refund was submitted via direct deposit to your account or a live check.

The IRS checks off the reason you did not receive a return:

• 1 – The U.S. Postal Service returned your check because it could not be delivered
• 2 – Your check was not cashed within one year of the issue date as the law requires, and it can no longer be cashed.
• 3 – You did not receive the refund check, or you received it and it was lost, stolen or destroyed.

Fill out Section I with your name, taxpayer identification number (TIN), spouse's name, spouse's TIN, address and phone number. If any information has changed (such as your name, address or TIN) since you filed the tax return in question, list it in the space provided.

If you have a Power of Attorney authorized to receive your check, list that person's name and address. Check off the type of return: individual, business or other; the type of refund requested: check or direct deposit; the amount requested and the tax period and date filed.

Complete Section II only if you did not receive a refund; you received a refund but it was lost, stolen, or destroyed; or you received a refund check and signed it (tick the appropriate box). Check the box if you received correspondence about your refund from the IRS (enclose a copy). List the bank and account number where you normally cash checks.

Check "Yes" or "No" to the question: "If the refund was a direct deposit, did you receive a 'Refund Anticipation Loan'?" Enter the routing and account number(s) from your return for the refund you did not receive.

You won't need to fill out Section IV, because it's for official Internal Revenue Service use only.

Certify that all the information you provided is true and correct in Section III. You, your spouse or an authorized business representative should sign and date Form 3911. Use the envelope provided to return the form to the IRS or send the form to the address where you normally send your tax returns. See the official IRS website for a list of return addresses by state.