Still waiting for your tax refund? If you've filed your return and still haven't received your refund check, there's some simple steps you can take to make sure your refund hasn't been lost. Jeremy Vohwinkle reminds us that you can check the status of your refund online, and even initiate a trace to find out if your refund check has been cashed.

Here's some other tips for handling refund issues. If you are using software, check the software or Web application to see if your return has actually been filed. You should see an e-file confirmation notice letting you know when your return was accepted by the IRS. Sometimes, a return is rejected by the IRS computers for one reason or another, and that rejection notice will let you know what needs to be fixed so you can file your return.

Also, be sure to verify your bank information if you requested direct deposit. Sometimes people make a mistake in that field. One About.com reader even lost her refund because of incorrect direct deposit information. The IRS is getting a little better about helping people in these situations, but the bottom line is that you'll need to work directly with the bank to make sure the refund gets credited to your account.