The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued more guidance this week on what to do should a family member receive a stimulus payment for a deceased relative.
The federal government has been distributing millions of checks and deposits for up to $1,200 per individual based on their 2019 or 2018 tax returns. Payments of $500 are also being sent to children under the age of 17.
But some of those individuals have died since they filed their taxes, and a number of people have reported receiving checks or deposits for their deceased relatives. The reports prompted Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to tell news outlets that they should send back those checks.
Now, as of Wednesday, the IRS offered more guidance on what to do.
The agency added a question on its FAQ section, “Does someone who has died qualify for the payment” to its stimulus Q&A section on Wednesday. The answer: no.
The IRS also updated its website to include instructions on how to send back the check.
If it’s a paper check, write “void” on the endorsement section on the back and mail it to the Treasury Department. Also include a note saying why you are sending it back.
“The IRS system is smart enough to note she is deceased, as I filed a 2018 final tax return, but not smart enough to figure out deceased people can’t stimulate the economy,” he said.
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