The only definitive date is January 1, 2020. If a person died before that date he is not eligible for stimulus payments, and if he received a stimulus payment, it must be returned. However, if a person died during 2020, there is some debate as to whether he is eligible or not. I am opting for following the IRS, since they deal with the tax returns. Therefore, I will file my Dad's taxes as TurboTax suggests, namely requesting the Recovery Rebate Credit. Ultimately, the IRS will decide whether my Dad receives the credit payment.
It makes no sense for the government to issue stimulus payments to dead people. But, this won't be the first time, or the last, that the government doesn't make any sense.
