Refund check payable to taxpayer and deceased spouse

[sjrcpa]

Client's 2019 1040 efiled February 12, 2021.

Refund due, but since the return is late IRS won't direct deposit.

(Return was late because client was tending to her dying husband.)

Spouse died March 1, 2021.

$6K refund check payable to taxpayer and spouse arrives yesterday March 8, 2021. 

Can she cash it? Is it a bank specific thing?

[qbteachmt]

The Bank where she had/has joint account(s) should accept it. If she changed banks or has no personal relationship with someone there, she should be able to use the tax return to show it was joint and that generated the refund, assuming MFJ.

[BobKamman]

Put it through an ATM.  ATM's will eat anything.  

[sjrcpa]

That's my mode of operation, too.

[sjrcpa]

It was MFJ.

[IRonMaN]

I think it is a bank specific thing and maybe even a teller specific thing.  It it is a joint account they should take it, but I do like Bob's idea - an ATM machine is always, no muss, no fuss.

[TaxGuyBill]

In the event the bank won't take it, Form 1310 (Box "A") can get the check reissued.