SALEM — There are still 13,000 unclaimed kicker checks just waiting to be cashed in Oregon.

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Oregon refund check.

The checks were returned to the Oregon Department of Revenue because the recipients couldn’t be found.

The U.S. Postal Service returned 25,000 undeliverable kicker checks to the department. So far, 12,000 of those have been claimed by their rightful owners.

"We've posted on our website the names of people whose kicker checks are waiting for them," explained Department of Revenue Financial Manager Ken Ross.

 More: Calculating a kicker check

The check values total $2.8 million.

The Oregon Department of Revenue keeps unclaimed refunds for two years. After that, Oregon law requires that the funds be transferred to the Oregon Department of State Lands' unclaimed property program, where the money can still be claimed for two years.

 More: Oregon to refund unwillingly donated kicker checks

For more information and to obtain an unclaimed refund request form, visit this state Web site or call 1-800-356-4222, toll free or 503-378-4988 in salem and outside Oregon. (Note: The call center is very busy right now, so callers should be prepared to get busy signals or be on hold for extended periods.)