A5. No, a payment made to someone who died before receiving the payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions in Topic I: Returning the Economic Impact Payment.
Joint filers with a deceased spouse: For payments made to joint filers with a deceased spouse who died before receiving the payment, return the decedent’s portion of the payment. This amount will be $1,200 unless your adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.
If you can’t cash or deposit the check: If you cannot cash or deposit the payment because it was issued to you and a deceased spouse, return the check as described in Topic I: Returning the Economic Impact Payment. After the IRS receives and processes your returned payment, an Economic Impact Payment will be reissued to you.
- The IRS is aware that some surviving spouses weren’t issued their portion of the payment. We’re in the process of correcting this issue to send these payments as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. You can check the status of your payment using the Get My Payment tool. Eligible individuals who don’t receive a payment this year may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.
The Bureau of the Fiscal Services (BFS) has cancelled outstanding Economic Impact Payment (EIP) checks issued to recipients who may not be eligible, including those who may be deceased. Recipients should still return these checks as described in Topic I: Returning the Economic Impact Payment instructions.
