Treasury: Relief checks sent to dead people should be returned

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

If you received a relief check for a deceased relative, you should think twice before spending that money.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told The Wall Street Journal that he expects families who receive those checks to return the money.

"You're not supposed to keep that payment," Mnuchin told the paper. "We're checking the databases, but there could be a scenario where we missed something, and yes, the heirs should be returning that money."

The $2 trillion CARES Act authorized the government to send payments of up to $1,200 per qualifying American, plus $500 for their dependents under 17.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/treasury-relief-checks-sent-to-dead-people-should-be-returned/ar-BB13nlJk?li=BBnb7Kz

[mwooldri]

1. Makes it a complicated question IMO

This $1200 is a tax credit as I understand it for 2020s taxes.

If the individual who received the check died in 2019 or earlier then yes the check should be returned. However if the deceased died this tax year... does the check still count? What about people who die in 2020 after they receive the check? What if they die in 2020 because of the virus?

I'm not a lawyer or tax professional... Any thoughts?

[jimfields33]

2. If they received the 250 dollar final payment which is a death "insurance payment "

Then it needs to go back. If they haven’t then they are good to go.