Have you received a Stimulus check or deposit for a deceased family member? The Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin has said that payments received for a deceased taxpayer must be returned. IRS instructions for returning a payment that was issued erroneously are provided below, from www.irs.gov.
If your refund was a paper Treasury check and hasn’t been cashed:
- Write “Void” in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
- Submit the check immediately, but no later than 21 days, to the appropriate IRS location listed below. The location is based on the city (possibly abbreviated) on the bottom text line in front of the words STIMULUS CHECK on your refund check.
- Don’t staple, bend, or paper clip the check.
- Include a note stating “Return of erroneous Stimulus check” and give a brief explanation of the reason for returning the refund check.
If your refund was a paper Treasury check and has been cashed:
- Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately, but no later than 21 days, to the appropriate IRS location listed below. The location is based on the city (possibly abbreviated) on the bottom text line in front of the words “Return of erroneous Stimulus check” on your refund check. If you no longer have access to a copy of the check, call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040(this number is currently not manned by IRS) and explain to the assistor that you need information to repay a cashed refund check.
- Write on the check/money order: Payment of Erroneous Refund, the tax period for which the refund was issued, and your taxpayer identification number (social security number, employer identification number, or individual taxpayer identification number).
- Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the refund.
- Cashing an erroneous refund check may result in interest due the IRS.
If your refund was a direct deposit:
- Contact the Automated Clearing House (ACH) department of the bank/financial institution where the direct deposit was received and have them return the refund to the IRS.
- Call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-1040(this number is currently not manned by IRS) to explain why the direct deposit is being returned.
- Interest may accrue on the erroneous refund.
IRS mailing addresses based on the city (possibly abbreviated) located on the bottom text line in front of the words TAX REFUND on your refund check:
- ANDOVER – IRS, 310 Lowell St., Andover MA 01810
- ATLANTA – IRS, 4800 Buford Hwy, Chamblee GA 30341
- AUSTIN – IRS, 3651 South Interregional Hwy 35, Austin TX 78741
- BRKHAVN – IRS, 5000 Corporate Ct., Holtsville NY 11742
- CNCNATI – IRS, 201 West Rivercenter Blvd., Covington KY 41011
- FRESNO – IRS, 5045 East Butler Ave., Fresno CA 93727
- KANS CY – IRS, 333 W Pershing Rd., Kansas City MO 64108-4302
- MEMPHIS – IRS, 5333 Getwell Rd., Memphis TN 38118
- OGDEN – IRS, 1973 Rulon White Blvd., Ogden UT 84201
- PHILA – IRS, 2970 Market St., Philadelphia PA 19104