05/07/2020
There have certainly been hiccups in the IRS's efforts to get stimulus checks out as quickly as possible. Add sending checks to dead people to the list. People who received checks for relatives who are no longer with us were scratching their heads wondering what they should do with the money. Keep it? Deposit it into an estate account? Send it back? Donate it to charity? Something else?
GET A STEP AHEAD: Sign up for Kiplinger's free daily e-newsletter on the coronavirus' economic impact
At first, the IRS pretty much ignored the issue—they had bigger fish to fry. But then they said to send it back, but they didn't say how. Now, however, the IRS has specific guidance on what to do if you receive a stimulus check for a deceased person.
SEE ALSO:
Who's Not Getting a Stimulus Check
Who Needs to Return a Stimulus Payment
The IRS says that a stimulus payment made to someone who died before receiving it should be returned to the government. The entire payment should be returned, unless it was made payable to joint filers and one spouse is still alive. In that case, you only need to return the portion of the payment made on account of the deceased person. This amount will be $1,200, unless your joint adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.
If You Received a Paper Check and Have Not Cashed It
If you received a paper stimulus check, and you have not cashed it, follow these steps:
Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the check;
Mail the voided check immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below;
Don't staple, bend, or paper clip the check; and
Include a note stating the reason for returning the check.
SEE ALSO:
Are We Going to Get a Second Round of Stimulus Checks for $2,000 Each Month?
Cashed Paper Checks and Direct Deposit Payments
If the payment was by paper check and you have cashed it, or if the payment was a direct deposit, follow these steps:
Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below;
Make the check/money order payable to "U.S. Treasury";
Write "2020EIP" and the deceased person's taxpayer identification number (social security number or individual taxpayer identification number) on the check or money order; and
Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the payment.
SEE ALSO:
Where's My Stimulus Check? Use the IRS's "Get My Payment" Portal to Find Out
Where to Send the Returned Payment
Here are the IRS mailing addresses to use for returning stimulus check payments.
Mailing Addresses for Returning Stimulus Check Payments
If you live in… Mail to this address
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont Andover Refund Inquiry Unit
1310 Lowell St.
Mail Stop 666A
Andover, MA 01810
Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia Atlanta Refund Inquiry Unit
4800 Buford Hwy.
Mail Stop 112
Chamblee, GA 30341
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas Austin Refund Inquiry Unit
3651 S Interregional Hwy. 35
Mail Stop 6542
Austin, TX 78741
New York Brookhaven Refund Inquiry Unit
5000 Corporate Ct.
Mail Stop 547
Holtsville, NY 11742
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming Fresno Refund Inquiry Unit
5045 E Butler Ave.
Mail Stop B2007
Fresno, CA 93888
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia Kansas City Refund Inquiry Unit
333 W Pershing Rd.
Mail Stop 6800, N-2
Kansas City, MO 64108
Alabama, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee Memphis Refund Inquiry Unit
5333 Getwell Rd.
Mail Stop 8422
Memphis, TN 38118
District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island Philadelphia Refund Inquiry Unit
2970 Market St.
DP 3-L08-151
Philadelphia, PA 19104
A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien Austin Refund Inquiry Unit
3651 S Interregional Hwy. 35
Mail Stop 6542 AUSC
Austin, TX 78741
