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.

 

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.

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