Stimulus Check For Dead Mother

[Drake3287]

Well, add me to the list of people with deceased family members getting direct deposit stimulus checks. My mother passed away in January of this year and of course Social Security was officially notified. Sure enough I noticed the $1,200. deposit this morning. As executer of her Estate it's just one more pain in the you know what I have to deal with. Her checking account is now officially in my name and SS number so any surprise letters from the IRS down the road will be my headache and burden. (BofA automatically takes the deceased off an account once notified)

Sent an email off to my local Congressman but I'm sure no one will have an answer. The Estate can certainly use the money to pay her bills but it's not worth the headache attempting to do the right thing.

[bjl584]

Supposedly this is occurring a lot.
Sorry you are dealing with it.
Apparently, different govt. agencies aren't good at communicating with each other.

[Petunia 100]

Sorry for your loss.

It seems to me that your mother would be entitled to the stimulus payment. I see nothing in the language about it being pro-rated due to death. A taxpayer owes a final tax return in the year of death (filed by surviving spouse or the estate, of course). The taxpayer gets all of the usual credits and deductions, not pro-rated at all based on months alive during the year.

We know for sure that there will be no true-up. People who get more from the stimulus payment than they were actually due will not have to pay it back.

[ua_guy]

Might want to consult someone other than a congressman. The fear would be that they figure out the mistake or that payment wasn't actually due, and then they make you pay it back, with interest!! Seems like something the IRS or treasury would do.

[Drake3287]

Sorry for your loss.

It seems to me that your mother would be entitled to the stimulus payment. I see nothing in the language about it being pro-rated due to death. A taxpayer owes a final tax return in the year of death (filed by surviving spouse or the estate, of course). The taxpayer gets all of the usual credits and deductions, not pro-rated at all based on months alive during the year.

We know for sure that there will be no true-up. People who get more from the stimulus payment than they were actually due will not have to pay it back.

I had thought about that. No where does it state that the individual had to be alive when the stimulus package was approved as long as they technically lived during part of 2020. Sort of like being able to claim a child credit for a baby born on Dec. 31. And you're right, even though she only lived for 7 days in 2020, doing 2020 taxes will technically be required next year. Hopefully the IRS will come out with some type of clarification on these checks to deceased individuals.

[Petunia 100]

Saw this and thought of this thread: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/th...rsonal-finance

[Drake3287]

Not that anyone's following this but here's an update on my deceased mother's stimulus check she received by mistake. In May the IRS officially came out with directions for people to return these stimulus checks to the IRS which had been mailed by accident. As the executer of the estate I wrote a check for $1,200. along with a letter describing the reason for the payment. EXACTY what the IRS asked for.

Sure enough almost 4 months later and the check still hasn't been cashed and of course I'm waiting to close this account but can't until the check is cashed. When I call the IRS they have no answer and can't even tell me the the check/letter was even received. No one has an answer other than give it more time. More time for what!!

It obviously doesn't pay to be honest with the IRS. I'm probably the only one to send it back and they have no idea what to do with it. The other problem is when the government decides to send another round of stimulus checks you know who's going to get another one. No end in sight to this.

[disneysteve]

Sorry it's such a hassle for you. Hopefully it all settles out when you file taxes.

If they do another round of checks, hopefully they share data between the different agencies so that they don't repeat the same problem, but this is the government we're talking about so who knows.

[Smallsteps]

Wow this whole thing has been a mess... we never received any even though we qualify.
The website to track your payment was of zero use as they kept saying no match for both my and my husbands information..... funny they had no problem cashing our check for taxes in may so i know they had this years return processed.

I had been patient thinking it was just processing but decided to call them ..... you get a group that tell you up front they are not allowed any personal information like SSN etc.
So what is this phone line doing JUST reading the answers from the FAQ page....... i asked to get a different phone # etc to talk to some one who could help they transferred me and then the phone hung up this whole thing took almost an hour.
i will need to call the do nothing phone # to see if the next transfer works but i too am thinking of writing my congress woman.

[disneysteve]

Wow this whole thing has been a mess... we never received any even though we qualify.

The check was an advance credit on your 2020 taxes so hopefully it just gets made up when you file your return.