[Bruce Esher]

I received a Treasury check yeasterday 5/24/10 for overpayment of taxes, I assume, there was nothing iin the envelope except a check. The check has a date of 12/08 and void after 1 year - was this a mistake or is the IRS screwing with me.

[RickJ]

Yes, they can "screw with you" but they don't normally do it that way. Just call them to inform them of the error... and ask them to reissue payment... or better yet, ask them to directly deposit it into your checking or savings account.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

I believe you are mis-reading the date.

The date 12/08 probably indicates that it is a refund from TAX YEAR 2008 (the recently completed round of tax filings was for Tax Year 2009).

Take a closer look at the check to ensure that the date date is not sometime in 2010.

Better yet, take it to a bank and ask THEM if the check can be cashed.

[RickJ]

ATL, I cannot give you rep again due to the site restrictions...

Bruce, do as Atlanta Tax Expert suggests. He is the best Tax guy on the internet.

[Zedek]

My disability check was lost in the mail. The VA resent the check but because of the lost check my bills got behind. What is the very worst that could happen if I found the lost check and cashed it so that I could catch up my bills understanding that the VA will more than likely take a month's payment from me. But is that all I could expect and how soon would it happen.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

This is REALLY a legal question, NOT a tax question.

That said, In my opinion, you would be committing FRAUD if you cashed the lost check UNLESS you notified the VA and they allowed you to cash it.