There has been much discussion among lawyers as to the payment of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) stimulus checks to deceased individuals. The checks are generally in the amount of $1,200.00 for each taxpayer. The Internal Revenue Service has recently addressed the issue on the Question and Answer section of its website.
The IRS states that a person who died before receipt of the payment does not qualify and the payment should be returned to the IRS. The entire payment should be returned unless the payment was made to joint filers and one spouse was alive at the time of receipt of the payment. In such case, you are required to only return the portion of the payment made on account of the decedent.
The IRS requests the following steps if the payment was a paper check which has not been cashed.
- Write “Void” in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
- Mail the check to the IRS address set out below.
- Do not staple, bend or paperclip the check.
- Include a note setting out the reason for returning the check.
The IRS requests the following steps if the payment was a paper check which has been cashed or if the payment was a direct deposit.
- Send a personal check or money order to the IRS address set out below.
- The check/money order should be payable to the “U.S. Treasury” and write “2020 EIP” and the taxpayer’s identification number on the check.
- Include a note setting out the reason for returning the “EIP”.
If the taxpayer lived in Iowa, the mailing address for the IRS is as follows:
Atlanta Refund Inquiry Unit
4800 Buford Hwy.
Mail Stop 112
Chamblee, GA 30341
If you have questions or need additional information about IEP Stimulus Checks or how to navigate the above information, you can call our offices at 515-225-1100, email [email protected], or connect with us through the contact page on our Web site.