stimulus/divorce/two checks
Hello. I got a divorce last year and it was finalized in 2019. I already filed my taxes for 2019 (i received a paper check) and my stimulus tracker says that I will be getting a stimulus but that it hasnt been sent yet. Meanwhile, my ex husband did not file taxes for 2019 yet and was sent a stimulus check for both of us. He wants me to sign it because he wants his money. I am concerned about the IRS sending me 2 payments and then getting in trouble. Will the IRS realize that they already sent it to my ex-husband before they send me a second one?
Terry Says
You’re right not to sign that check that went to him. It was probably done off the 2018 joint return — UNLESS he illegally filed jointly for 2019. since that return was supposed to be based on marital status at the end of the year, he filed a fraudulent return — and especially so if he signed your name. If the government paid him of your 2018 return it is an innocent mistake.
But you still shouldn’t sign it because you already received your own stimulus payment. He will have to get in touch with the IRS when this blows over. Or he might take the chance of depositing it in his own account, and waiting to see if they come back for the money later. Either way, you don’t want to be part of this.
