Can I use my mom's bank account to cash my tax refund check?

You absolutely can deposit your tax refund check into your mom's account. The important thing is that the check is properly endorsed. You'll need to sign the back of the check, and depending on the bank, your mom might need to sign under your signature with "for deposit only" written below both signatures. Some banks might be more strict than others though. If it's a joint deposit (meaning you're both present at the bank), it typically goes smoother. If your mom is depositing it without you there, she may face more questions or requirements from the bank. This won't cause any IRS issues since the refund has already been processed in your name. The IRS doesn't track or care about where you deposit or cash your refund check once it's been issued to you. It's just considered your money at that point.

I went through something similar last year with my tax refund! I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand all my options for handling my refund check. The site has this cool feature where you can upload your tax documents and get personalized advice about handling refunds when you don't have your own bank account. It actually explained that endorsing the check to your mom is completely legal as long as it's properly signed over.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I tried it after asking about it here and I'm actually amazed. I uploaded my 1099 and some other tax docs, and it gave me super specific advice about both my side gig situation AND answered my questions about depositing checks into someone else's account in my state. The explanation was really clear about the state-specific endorsement requirements. Definitely saved me from making a mistake with how I was planning to handle things. Worth checking out if you're confused about any tax stuff!

If you're having trouble with the bank accepting the check, Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) saved me HOURS of frustration. I had a similar issue with my tax refund check last year and needed to talk to someone at the IRS about it, but kept getting stuck on hold forever. The Claimyr service got me through to an actual human at the IRS in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. The IRS agent explained exactly what endorsement language I needed to use for someone else to deposit my refund check.

I'll admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I had tax questions that had been hanging over me for weeks. It actually worked exactly as described. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd previously wasted hours on hold. The agent confirmed that I could deposit my tax refund in someone else's account with proper endorsement. They explained I needed to write "Pay to the order of [mom's name]" and then both of us needed to sign. Totally worth it and definitely not a scam like I initially thought.

Another option nobody mentioned is getting a prepaid debit card from Walmart or similar stores and having the check loaded onto it. I did this last year when I was between bank accounts. There's usually a small fee but it's convenient and you don't have to involve family members.

Definitely just endorse it over to your mom. I do this with my roommate all the time - we just write "Pay to the order of [other person's name]" and then sign it. Super simple and totally legal. Most banks are fine with it if you both have ID.

Yes, you can definitely deposit your tax refund check into your mom's account! This is actually pretty common for people who don't have their own bank accounts yet. The key is proper endorsement - you'll need to sign the back of the check and write "Pay to the order of [your mom's full name]" above your signature. Your mom will then need to sign below your signature. Most banks will accept this as long as you both have valid ID and can explain the situation if asked. Some banks are stricter than others, so it might help if you both go to the bank together for the deposit. This won't cause any issues with the IRS at all - once they issue the refund check to you, they don't track where you deposit or cash it. If for some reason the bank gives you trouble, you have other options like check cashing services, loading it onto a prepaid debit card, or mobile deposit through your mom's banking app. But honestly, most banks handle endorsed checks like this routinely. Just make sure both signatures are clear and legible!