"The survey simply points out how much taxpayers, businesses, cities and counties would gain if everyone claimed their refunds," said Maria Sotero, a program associate with the New America Foundation in Sacramento, in a phone interview. "It's estimated to be more effective as a stimulus when the economy is hurting."...

"We've always known how important these refunds are to California families," Anne Stuhldreher, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation, said in a statement. "This report is the first to show how important they are to our state's economy. By encouraging people to find out if they're eligible for these refunds, we can give struggling families a financial boost and stimulate the economy at the same time."...