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IRS urging people to give back stimulus checks they got on behalf of a dead taxpayer

AP2008

Matt Rourke/AP

Blank stimulus checks are seen on an idle press at the Philadelphia Regional Financial Center, which disburses payments on behalf of federal agencies, in Philadelphia, Thursday, May 8, 2008. The first batch of rebate payments started hitting bank accounts last week through direct deposits. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials are visiting government check printing centers around the country on Thursday for events highlighting the fact that millions of rebate checks are in the mail. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

By: Anthony Wright, 23ABC

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The IRS is now urging people to give back stimulus checks they got on behalf of a dead taxpayer but legal experts say you may not have to. There is no law requiring that the money be returned.

The accidental checks went out because of an IRS lag in reporting data. Tax experts say it has also happened with past federal stimulus payments and it's almost inevitable.

However, this is the first time the IRS has asked for the money back. The Treasury Department has not yet responded to the comments from legal experts.

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IRS urging people to give back stimulus checks they got on behalf of a dead taxpayer

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