Tax Refund Woes!

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I filled my taxes "Married filing jointly" since Kathlene and I married last year and got her ITIN # and all that good stuff. Now I got my/our tax refund check in the mail today and took it to the bank. THEY WOULD'T DEPOSIT IT! They said it had to be a joint account since it had both our names on it and they can't put her name on my account until she is here in person to sign the papers. So I am sure the same thing will happen when I get my state refund as well.

Has anyone else run into this before? I understand their concerns about fraud and the bank manager said the Treasury Dept would return the check without both signatures on the back.

OH well, I guess I will just put them both in the safe and wait until this fall and we can use the money for a short delayed honeymoon after she lands in the US.

Now I could mail them to Kathlene and have her sign them and mail two SIGNED checks back to me, but that doesn't sound like too good of an idea.

Maybe I should have filed 'Married filing separately' and I wouldn't have had that problem, but I must admit I didn't see this coming!

[William33 110]

I filled my taxes "Married filing jointly" since Kathlene and I married last year and got her ITIN # and all that good stuff. Now I got my/our tax refund check in the mail today and took it to the bank. THEY WOULD'T DEPOSIT IT! They said it had to be a joint account since it had both our names on it and they can't put her name on my account until she is here in person to sign the papers. So I am sure the same thing will happen when I get my state refund as well.

Has anyone else run into this before? I understand their concerns about fraud and the bank manager said the Treasury Dept would return the check without both signatures on the back.

OH well, I guess I will just put them both in the safe and wait until this fall and we can use the money for a short delayed honeymoon after she lands in the US.

Now I could mail them to Kathlene and have her sign them and mail two SIGNED checks back to me, but that doesn't sound like too good of an idea.

Maybe I should have filed 'Married filing separately' and I wouldn't have had that problem, but I must admit I didn't see this coming!

Both of you need an account there? BS. You both need only endorse the check. That is check 101 standard.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Both of you need an account there? BS. You both need only endorse the check. That is check 101 standard.

Maybe I should clarify, they said if we ALREADY had a joint account, I could sign it and we both would not have to sign the check. Sorry if I was not clear.

I am just a little nervous about an endorsed check traveling that far through the mail, and by the time I mail it to her and I get it back it will be within a few weeks of her being her anyway.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Direct Deposit is your friend.

[Sinergy 3]

Go to another branch of your bank and see if they will cash/deposit it. Sometimes you get ppl who dont know what they are doing. If you try another branch of the same bank youll get better results. if that doesnt help, go to a check cashing place, it will cost you a bit but then take the cash to the bank and deposit it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Go to another branch of your bank and see if they will cash/deposit it. Sometimes you get ppl who dont know what they are doing. If you try another branch of the same bank youll get better results. if that doesnt help, go to a check cashing place, it will cost you a bit but then take the cash to the bank and deposit it.

A check payable to A and B needs to be endorsed by A and B. The bank is not at fault for not cashing a check payable to A and B when only A is endorsing it. B has a joint claim to the funds and needs to consent to the funds being cashed out.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I would (with the blessing of my spouse) Just sign her name prior to going to the bank!!

[athena_ny 1]

Direct Deposit is your friend.

[natty bumppo 289]

I would (with the blessing of my spouse) Just sign her name prior to going to the bank!!

you can always write on the back ... "for deposit only to acct (your account number)" ... send to her for signature .... then have it returned ... then you do your thing.

[mawilson 2,133]

Just deposit it at an ATM. My bank's ATM cashes everything - they never check any names.

I often sign and deposit my wife's pay cheques into our joint account or my personal account.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Direct Deposit is your friend.

I had filled out the Direct Deposit info, but the bank manager said it probably got kicked back when it didn't see Kathlene's name on the account.

Here interview is August 9th, so I guess I can wait until she gets here.

[wong_watkins 1]

I would (with the blessing of my spouse) Just sign her name prior to going to the bank!!

Word...go to another branch of the bank though..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Direct Deposit is your friend.

I had filled out the Direct Deposit info, but the bank manager said it probably got kicked back when it didn't see Kathlene's name on the account.

Here interview is August 9th, so I guess I can wait until she gets here.

Seems indeed that some banks are more ####### about it that others. The IRS does advise that:

A word of caution — some financial institutions do not allow a joint refund to be deposited into an individual account. Check with your bank or other financial institution to make sure your direct deposit will be accepted. Also, make sure you have the correct nine-digit routing number and your account number when selecting direct deposit.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=105957,00.html

Bottom line: You bank sucks.

[Jackie&Yosdani 0]

can you have her endorse the check then cash it..??

[Dr_LHA 3]

Just deposit it at an ATM. My bank's ATM cashes everything - they never check any names.

I often sign and deposit my wife's pay cheques into our joint account or my personal account.

Agreed. My wife often gets checks with the wrong name on them, for example her nickname which she generally goes by and my surname (even though she never changed her surname after marrying me the b*tch ). I just stick them into the ATM and even have endorsed them myself, they always clear.