PASCO COUTNY, Fla. — Michael Cox’s 94-year-old mother died just after Christmas. She was suffering from Alzheimer's for years.
“My mom was an incredible lady," Michael said.
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Naomi Cox lived a full life including her time in the Nursing Corp during World War II.
“She was just the epitome of what you’d want in a mom. She lived the American dream," said Michael.
Cox is still settling his mother’s estate when he got an unexpected piece of mail from the Internal Revenue Service.
A stimulus check for $1,200 made out to his mom. It even notes that she's deceased.
There are similar stories of money going to dead people all around the country.
Michael, a former Pasco County commissioner, says there’s no reason the IRS should have issued these checks.
“They immediately know that people are gone. So this is just a very amateuristic mistake," he said.
The IRS says it is aware of the situation, but it’s not clear how many checks have gone to people who are deceased.
The Treasury said they will issuing guidance on what to do soon.
Last month, President Donald Trump said he expected the money to be returned.
Michael says he is planning on sending this check back, but wonders how many others will do the same.
“There’s millions and millions of dollars being wasted. My mother’s brother passed away about a year ago and he got one as well," said Michael.
