MICHIGAN — If you've received a stimulus check for a loved one who passed away before the checks were sent out, you only have one choice; send it back.
"A Payment made to someone who died before receipt of the Payment should be returned to the IRS" the IRS website reads. You can keep your portion if your spouse passed away and you filed jointly, but the money intended for your spouse should be returned to the IRS immediately.
The IRS says Michiganders should nullify the check by writing VOID in the endorsement section and send it back with a note explaining the return to this address:
Kansas City Refund Inquiry Unit
333 W Pershing Rd
Mail Stop 6800, N-2
Kansas City, MO 6410
If you've already cashed the check, or got it by direct deposit, you should write a cashier's check payable to “U.S. Treasury” and send it to the address listed above. Checks must include the code "2020EIP" and the deceased person's taxpayer ID written on them and be accompanied by a note explaining the return.
In either case, they ask you to avoid using paperclips or staples to keep the note and the check together.
There are not yet clear consequences yet for not returning checks intended for deceased loved ones.
