Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
Apr 11th 2019, 10:03 pm
#1
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Joined: Mar 2016
Location: CA
Posts: 44
Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
My tax refund was sent to my UK address. The check has my UK address on the front.
Can I cash this at my US bank (despite it having a UK address printed)?
Or should I cash this at my UK bank (will they accept a US check?)
Many thanks for any info
Can I cash this at my US bank (despite it having a UK address printed)?
Or should I cash this at my UK bank (will they accept a US check?)
Many thanks for any info
Apr 11th 2019, 10:17 pm
#2
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,447
Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
A British bank will take it and collect it for you, but undoubtedly will utterly screw you with fees and a crappy exchange rate.
It is highly unlikely that your US bank will pay any attention to the address, so long as your name matches and you are an established customer. Checks in the US (and UK) are processed by machines whenever possible, so it is unlikely that the check would even be looked at by an actual human being.
I am not sure why you would "cash" it in either country, I presume you mean "deposit" it. Walking into a bank and asking to receive cash for a check, especially a tax refund check, is one sure way to draw attention to yourself and have the check scrutinized by the teller and/or flagged for further investigation. Even if you want cash, I would recommend depositing it and drawing the cash later, after the funds have cleared, which would typically be the next business day.
It is highly unlikely that your US bank will pay any attention to the address, so long as your name matches and you are an established customer. Checks in the US (and UK) are processed by machines whenever possible, so it is unlikely that the check would even be looked at by an actual human being.
I am not sure why you would "cash" it in either country, I presume you mean "deposit" it. Walking into a bank and asking to receive cash for a check, especially a tax refund check, is one sure way to draw attention to yourself and have the check scrutinized by the teller and/or flagged for further investigation. Even if you want cash, I would recommend depositing it and drawing the cash later, after the funds have cleared, which would typically be the next business day.
Apr 11th 2019, 10:19 pm
#3
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Joined: Mar 2016
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Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
Yeah sorry, meant deposit.
Sounds like the best bet is to try and do it via my US bank then, didnt know if they would care about them printing the address.
Sounds like the best bet is to try and do it via my US bank then, didnt know if they would care about them printing the address.
Apr 11th 2019, 10:24 pm
#4
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,447
Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
The worst that could happen is your bank asks you for evidence that that is your address, but I would be astounded if they even notice, or even look at the check other than the amount.
Apr 11th 2019, 11:18 pm
#5
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Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
Deposit it in the ATM
…. Especially if it is an ATM that scans the check directly, rather than using an envelope and consigning the deposit for manual processing.
Apr 12th 2019, 6:22 am
#7
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Location: Bay Area, from Plymouth UK
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Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
And direct deposit into your US bank account is a really good idea for future tax refunds. That's what I do.
Apr 12th 2019, 9:15 pm
#8
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Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
I can’t remember the last time I received a physical check from the IRS. The first year living here in the UK the Louisiana IRS sent me a physical check for my refund. I used mobile check deposit to put it into my US bank.
Apr 13th 2019, 12:22 pm
#9
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Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Watford
Posts: 1,147
Re: Tax refund check sent to UK address - how to deposit?
Unless I'm missing something obvious, can you just scan it on your US Bank app? As most people say the address could be Timbuktu, we just deposited an IRS check with our SoCal address still on it.
