Do People in Jail Get a Stimulus Check?

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EDITOR'S NOTE:

This article was originally published during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the federal government issued stimulus payments to many individuals. As of 2025, no federal stimulus checks are being issued.

For more information on so-called "stimulus checks" as of 2025, see our report: Stimulus Checks 2025: IRS Payments, State Rebates and What's Next.

A lot of people who you might not think would be getting a pandemic stimulus check have received a payment—including dead people. But what about inmates who are locked up in prison? Should they get a stimulus check? And if they get one, should they be able to keep it?

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According to the IRS, an incarcerated person does not qualify for a stimulus check. In fact, if a person in jail or prison gets a payment, they're supposed to return it to the IRS immediately. The entire payment should be returned, unless it was made payable to joint filers and only one spouse is incarcerated. In that case, only the portion of the payment for the prisoner needs to be returned (this amount will be $1,200, unless the couple's adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000).

Who's Not Getting a Stimulus Check (Or Has to Return It)

Prisoners, Fugitives, Parolees and Others Who Don't Get a Stimulus Check

The list of people who don't get a stimulus check (or need to return one) because they somehow broke the law actually goes beyond currently incarcerated inmates. The full list includes people who are:

Incarcerated in jail or a prison after being convicted of a crime;
Held in a mental health facility following a verdict or finding of guilty but insane, not guilty by reason of insanity, or incompetent to stand trial;
Determined to be a sexually dangerous person or sexual predator and confined to a halfway house or other similar facility;
Fleeing to avoid prosecution or prison time for a felony; and
In violation of probation or parole.

Paper Checks That Have Not Been Cashed

If an incarcerated person, or other person listed above, receives a paper stimulus check, and they have not cashed it, they should follow these steps:

Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the check;
Mail the voided check immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below;
Don't staple, bend, or paper clip the check; and
Include a note stating the reason for returning the check.

Is a Second Round of Stimulus Checks for $2,000 Each Month in Our Future?

Cashed Paper Checks and Direct Deposit Payments

If a paper check was sent and it has already been cashed, or if a direct deposit payment was received, an inmate or other person listed above should:

Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below;
Make the check/money order payable to "U.S. Treasury";
Write "2020EIP" and your taxpayer identification number (social security number or individual taxpayer identification number) on the check or money order; and
Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the payment.

Where's My (First) Stimulus Check? Use the IRS's "Get My Payment" Portal to Get an Answer

Where to Send the Returned Payment

Here are the IRS mailing addresses to use for returning stimulus check payments.

Mailing Addresses for Returning Stimulus Check Payments

Swipe to scroll horizontally

If you live in…	Mail to this address
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont	Andover Refund Inquiry Unit 1310 Lowell St. Mail Stop 666A Andover, MA 01810
Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Virginia	Atlanta Refund Inquiry Unit 4800 Buford Hwy. Mail Stop 112 Chamblee, GA 30341
Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas	Austin Refund Inquiry Unit 3651 S Interregional Hwy. 35 Mail Stop 6542 Austin, TX 78741
New York	Brookhaven Refund Inquiry Unit 5000 Corporate Ct. Mail Stop 547 Holtsville, NY 11742
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming	Fresno Refund Inquiry Unit 5045 E Butler Ave. Mail Stop B2007 Fresno, CA 93888
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia	Kansas City Refund Inquiry Unit 333 W Pershing Rd. Mail Stop 6800, N-2 Kansas City, MO 64108
Alabama, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee	Memphis Refund Inquiry Unit 5333 Getwell Rd. Mail Stop 8422 Memphis, TN 38118
District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island	Philadelphia Refund Inquiry Unit 2970 Market St. DP 3-L08-151 Philadelphia, PA 19104
A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien	Austin Refund Inquiry Unit 3651 S Interregional Hwy. 35 Mail Stop 6542 AUSC Austin, TX 78741

Your 2020 Stimulus Check: How Much? When? And Other Questions Answered

Rocky Mengle was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023 with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, Rocky worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.