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U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, on Monday celebrated as HR1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, passed the House unanimously by a voice vote.
The bipartisan bill, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, NY-11, and co-led by Reps. Sewell and David Kustoff, TN-08, would allow taxpayers who have had their checks from the IRS stolen or lost in the mail to receive a replacement via direct deposit, something IRS policies and procedures have historically prevented.
“For many of my constituents, a lost or stolen check is more than just an inconvenience. It can cause real financial hardship,” said Rep. Sewell. “That’s why I’m thrilled that the House has passed our legislation to allow taxpayers who are victims of lost or stolen checks to receive replacements via direct deposit. This is a commonsense measure that will protect Americans from financial fraud and ensure taxpayers receive the money they are owed.”
In the event that a tax return is lost or stolen in the mail, current IRS policies and procedures only allow for a replacement check to be issued via mail, not direct deposit. As a result, numerous taxpayers have had their returns lost or stolen repeatedly, without any remedy.
It is estimated that 40,000 IRS checks alone were stolen nationally in 2024—up from just 100 in 2022.
Bill text is available here.
A video of Congresswoman Sewell’s remarks on the House floor Monday can viewed here.
