The IRS sent out millions of stimulus checks and there are bound to be errors. For instance, payments have gone out to deceased persons. They have finally issued a notice detailing how relatives can return them.
The IRS has been trying to send out the stimulus checks as quickly as possible to millions of Americans hit badly by the economic downturn. And in the process, many checks have ended up in the mailbox and accounts of people who did not deserve them.
Stimulus Checks Going Out To Deceased Persons
One specific situation is when checks go out to deceased people. The IRS has issued a notice that the immediate next of kin should return the check to the nearest office if it is a paper check or a debit card.
But this notice is only for taxpayers who died last year. Any amount credited to the account in the name of persons who died before January 1 should not be spent.
There is an exception for couples who filed joint returns. In that case, the surviving partner may retain the amount. The rule applies even if the person deceased was in the military.
If the stimulus check has the names of both the spouses, the surviving spouse gets to keep the amount. But they have to request a fresh check with only the name of the survivor in it.
The Process To Return The Check
The process is simple. For checks, you need to write ‘void’ on the rear side in the endorsement part. Mail it to any local IRS office through the US postal service. Do remember to mention the reason behind returning the stimulus check.
If the amount has been credited to the account, you can send a MO or a personal check addressed to the nearest IRS office. The check or money order should be payable to the ‘U.S. Treasury’. Also, write ‘Third EIP’ and the personal identification number of the taxpayer on your check.
The child tax credit will start this July and continue through December. But you need to be careful regarding the payments. Any overpayment may cause you to return the excess funds during the 2022 tax season.
The IRS bases its calculation on available data. If any fresh inputs lead to a lesser amount, you will have to pay up later. The IRS has said that they would put up a portal for people to update their information.
