A spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR) confirmed that there is a mix-up that is causing many of its residents to throw stimulus checks in the trash: how to identify them
Both the federal and state governments often send paychecks or tax refund checks by postal mail when the payee’s bank account is missing. In the case of the U.S. government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for sending these payments with its stamp; but this does not apply to all state tax agencies. That’s happening in Minnesota, where some people are throwing their paychecks in the trash after they think it’s junk mail, even think it might be a scam.
The Minnesota government is sending out stimulus checks ranging from $260 to as much as $1,300, depending on taxpayer eligibility. The problem that is emerging, according to reports, is that many people end up throwing those payments in the trash, as they expect it to come from the Minnesota Department of Revenue (DOR), and in some cases it does.
Given this situation, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Ryan Brown, confirmed that the mailing of these checks is being done through Submittable Holdings, a vendor based in Missoula, Montana, which is causing serious confusion among those receiving this mail at home.
“The checks are legitimate. Submittable is a funds distribution and form creation software company located in Missoula, Montana, that the state has partnered with to help distribute the 2021″ one-time reimbursement payments, the spokesperson explained to FOX 9. “We also partnered with Submittable during the Frontline Worker Pay effort.”
During that interview, the spokesperson highlighted that the state of Minnesota also works with US Bank to distribute payments. That means that if you get a mailing from this institution, even if you don’t have a bank account there, you should check it out, because it could mean it’s your stimulus check.
The news outlet shared a photo of the return address to prove that what the spokesperson mentioned is legitimate, and showed a reimbursement check from the state.
Brown noted that the DOR is using a third party because the department is in the middle of property tax refund season and doesn’t have the resources to issue both payments without running the risk of disrupting property tax refunds.
The payments Minnesota is sending out are from the 2021 income or property tax return. Here the amounts and who your eligible residents are:
- $260 for single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing separately, and heads of household with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less in 2021
- $520 for married couples filing jointly with adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less in 2021.
- $260 for each dependent, up to three.
- Up to $1,300, the maximum payment married couples can get, between their $520 payment and that of the three dependents (if they have them).
Direct deposits are the first to be sent. Paper checks will be mailed through September. The department expects to mail nearly 2.1 million rebate payments by the end of the month.
If you do not receive your rebate payment by October, DOR recommends reviewing eligibility requirements on the department’s website. If you are eligible, call 651-565-6595 or email [email protected] to speak with a customer service representative.