GAO: $1.4B in stimulus payments to deceased people

The Government Accountability Office's report on the federal COVID-19 response reported that the IRS sent nearly $1.4 billion in Economic Impact Payments to nearly 1.1 million deceased individuals. The GAO encouraged the IRS to consider cost-effective ways to notify ineligible recipients on how to return payments.

The IRS last month issued frequently asked questions noting that payments made to individuals who died before receipt should be returned to the IRS and providing instructions to heirs and estates on how to return the payments.

ICBA's comprehensive FAQs on the COVID-19 response offer details on EIPs, including how to return the stimulus payments to the IRS.