By some estimates there are as many as 95,000 taxpayers, maybe more, who filed an IRS tax return at some time in the past but for one reason or another never claimed their filing tax return refund. It is hard to imagine, but the federal government is holding onto an almost unfathomable $92 million in unclaimed refunds at any given time. Could this be you? If you filed a 1040 EZ income tax statement last year, check with the Internal Revenue Service immediately to see if you have an unclaimed IRS tax refund waiting.

One of the best ways to save money on taxes is to follow the lead of the federal government by making certain you have received what is owed you from your tax return. File early and keep tabs on your return's progress.

Expecting some cash back from your own IRS tax return? Most people could dream up lots of ways in which they could benefit from an "extra" $1,000 spending money. Here are some productive suggestions:

• Pay down or pay off a high-interest credit card.
• Take a desperately needed vacation in a tropical region.
• Earn "brownie points" with the mortgage company or automobile financing company by making an extra payment or two.
• Place that cash in an interest-earning checking or savings account.
• Or, earn 3, 5, even 6 percent interest on short- or long-term certificates of deposit.

If you suspect you have a refund coming that you never received, contact the Internal Revenue Service to get more information about your tax return file. Have your own copy of your 1040 EZ income tax statement on hand for reference when you call, and you should quickly be able to sort out the matter. But hurry - the deadline for collecting unclaimed refunds is December 31 in the year of filing.