The article is in Swedish but long story short: Several Swedes have gotten payments to US accounts even though they haven't lived in the US for a long time. Since the US banking system is archaic...
The article is in Swedish but long story short:
Several Swedes have gotten payments to US accounts even though they haven't lived in the US for a long time.
Since the US banking system is archaic the difficulty of closing bank accounts may also create issues with repaying money to the US tax services (IRS) which now, after being told by those getting this money, want that money back.
Translated via Google translate (because "hand translating" felt like a hassle.
Several Swedes have received corona support from the US state.
Now the US tax office announces that it expects the money to be repaid. On Sunday, Aftonbladet told about Swedish Anders who received a share of Donald Trump and the US state's corona crisis money of $ 1,200 (SEK 11,700) - even though he has not lived or worked in the country since February 2019.
"I pay no tax, have no belongings there. The only thing I have is a bank and a pension account. It's sad that they don't have better control, there are others who need that money better", he said then.
After the article was published, Aftonbladet received several testimonials from other Swedish citizens who received the money, even though they have long since moved from the country.
Some say they have quickly transferred the unexpected contribution to their respective Swedish accounts, while others have left them in fear of the US tax authority, the IRS, to demand them back.
Aftonbladet has been in contact with the IRS and their message is just that: the money should be refunded.
“A foreign person who is not registered in the United States in 2020 is not eligible for the payment. Foreign citizens who have received a payment must repay the money to the IRS, ”one email says.
If you have them deposited directly into your bank account, you should, according to the IRS, send it back to according to instructions on their website.
"Is it a simple solution I would gladly send the money back, says Anders, who, however, fears bureaucratic hassle."
"I tried to cancel this bank account some time ago but then I was more or less referred to my local office. Physical checks, to which they refer, also tend to be tricky. You can do electronic checks via the bank, but you must not do this when you do not live there. But yeah, I'll try ..."
Aftonbladet has asked what consequences a non-repayment can lead to and how many people believe have received an incorrect payment, but without getting an answer from the IRS.
The article is in Swedish but long story short:
Several Swedes have gotten payments to US accounts even though they haven't lived in the US for a long time.
Since the US banking system is archaic the difficulty of closing bank accounts may also create issues with repaying money to the US tax services (IRS) which now, after being told by those getting this money, want that money back.
Translated via Google translate (because "hand translating" felt like a hassle.