# Anyone have any experience getting a replacement check from the IRS?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-any-experience-getting-a-replacement-check-from-the-irs/307620>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 9, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-any-experience-getting-a-replacement-check-from-the-irs/307620 "2005-06-09T17:59:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-any-experience-getting-a-replacement-check-from-the-irs/307620/1 "2005-06-09T17:59:52Z")

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Two weeks ago, on Wednesday, my Dad told me he had mailed me my income tax refund check and my latest proof of car insurance. I checked my mailbox faithfully, to avail. I thought the arrival might have been screwed up by Memorial Day, then I thought that it might have gotten lost in my junk mail. Fearing that I had unwittingly consigned $300 dollars to the trash can in my apartment complex’s mail hut, I finally called him on the Thursday after and asked what sort of envelope he’d sent it in.

In short, despite asking me address, despite my mom having my address on file, despite my grandparents having my correct address on file, he sent it to the wrong apartment. I used to live in a different apartment in the same complex, and he sent it to the old number.

I’ve tried getting in touch with the occupants of that apartment. I’ve dropped by, without finding anyone there who would know anything about it, and I’ve left a note about the important envelope that was misdirected. Although the official policy is to mark any misdelivered mail “return to sender” and put in the outgoing box, I know I personally never think to carry a pen with me to the mailbox. I suspect it’s been thrown away.

Can I call the IRS, report my original check lost and get a replacement? I have no idea what the original check number is or anything, because I never saw it. I’ve heard from my grandmother that my dad plans to give me the money if I can’t get back the check, but I’d much rather get it from the folks who owe it to me, rather than my dad.

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**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-any-experience-getting-a-replacement-check-from-the-irs/307620/2 "2005-06-09T19:03:18Z")

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[http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw148.html](http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw148.html)

> [@](#):
>
> **I lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?**
> 
> Call the IRS at (800) 829-1954. If your refund check has not been cashed, we can normally provide a replacement within six to eight weeks. If your refund check has been cashed, the Financial Management Service (FMS) will provide a copy of the check and a [Form 3911](http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3911.pdf) (PDF) Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, to initiate a claim. The signature on the cancelled check will be reviewed before determining whether another refund can be issued.