Need help tracing lost ERC checks with Bureau of the Fiscal Service - checks cashed by someone else

This is unfortunately a common issue with ERC payments. First, you're absolutely right to be concerned - it sounds like there's been some kind of error in the processing system or potentially fraud. What you need to do is contact the Treasury Check Information System directly at 1-800-826-9434. Their specific focus is handling issues with Treasury checks, and they can often provide more detailed information than the general Bureau of the Fiscal Service line. When you call, ask for a "check claims specialist" specifically. Also, request a formal investigation by submitting a written statement to the Check Claims Branch. Include copies of everything you've received, a clear explanation of the situation (the checks were cashed but not by your business), and explicitly request that they investigate who actually cashed these checks. Another approach is contacting your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office. They can often step in when you're caught in this kind of bureaucratic loop between different government agencies. They have more direct channels of communication with both the IRS and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

After dealing with a similar nightmare situation with my restaurant's ERC payments, I finally found help through taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). Their system specializes in analyzing government correspondence and tax documents - which was exactly what I needed when the Bureau of the Fiscal Service claimed my checks had been cashed by someone else. Their document analysis confirmed what I suspected - there was a processing error where my EIN had been incorrectly associated with another business. They provided me with a detailed report explaining exactly what happened with my ERC funds and concrete steps to resolve it. The best part was they handled all my documentation correctly the first time, which saved me months of going back and forth with different departments. If you're stuck in this bureaucratic loop between the IRS and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, I'd definitely recommend giving them a try. Dealing with check tracing issues is incredibly frustrating without specialized help.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about taxr.ai in my earlier comment. After struggling for nearly four months with a missing ERC payment situation almost identical to yours, I finally gave them a try out of desperation. Their system identified that my check was cashed by a business with a similar EIN (just two digits transposed) but a completely different name and address. They provided me with a detailed analysis showing exactly where the error occurred in the Bureau of the Fiscal Service's processing system. Using their documentation, I was able to get through to the right department at the Bureau and speak their language. The case was resolved in about three weeks, and I finally received a replacement check last Thursday. What surprised me most was how they found patterns in the processing codes that showed this wasn't just a random error but a systematic issue affecting several businesses with similar EINs. For anyone dealing with ERC check tracing issues, having this kind of specialized help makes a huge difference when you're caught between agencies that keep pointing fingers at each other.

After spending 6+ hours on hold with the IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service trying to resolve a similar ERC check issue, I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically get you through to an actual human at these government agencies instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. I was skeptical, but I was able to speak with a Bureau of the Fiscal Service representative within 30 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for weeks. The representative I spoke with explained that missing ERC checks that show as "cashed" often indicate a processing error rather than fraud. They guided me through exactly which department needed to initiate a formal investigation, and I was able to get my case assigned to an actual investigator rather than just floating in bureaucratic limbo. For anyone dealing with ERC check tracing issues, being able to actually speak with someone who can help is absolutely crucial. I went from getting nowhere for months to having my case actively investigated within a single day.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was so desperate with my own ERC check situation that I decided to try it anyway. Got connected to an actual Bureau of the Fiscal Service agent in 32 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for weeks on my own. The agent immediately recognized my issue as part of a known processing problem with a batch of ERC payments from March 2024 where checks were printed with correct amounts but incorrect payee information. They escalated my case to their Special Processing Unit and I received confirmation yesterday that replacement checks have been authorized. After four months of getting absolutely nowhere, my issue is finally being resolved. What made the biggest difference was actually speaking to someone who knew exactly what department handles these specific ERC check tracing problems. Turns out there's a dedicated team for these issues that you can't reach through the general helpline. Worth every penny just to bypass the hold time hell and actually get my case in front of the right people.

Have you tried visiting your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person? I had a similar issue with an ERC check that was shown as cashed but wasn't mine. The local office was able to initiate a special trace using Form 14958 (not the standard 3911 you already filed) which is specifically for disputed Treasury check endorsements. Make an appointment online first at irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office. Bring all your documentation, including the letters showing the incorrect checks. The key is asking specifically for help with "Treasury check verification" not just general ERC questions. The in-person staff can often access different systems than the phone representatives. In my case, they were able to see notes on my account that phone reps couldn't access, which helped identify exactly where the error occurred.

Does anyone know if this is going to cause problems for the business that actually received and cashed your checks? I'm actually on the opposite side of this - we received and deposited ERC checks that were made out to our business name and EIN, but now the IRS is saying they were meant for a different company and wants the money back. But we legitimately applied for those ERC credits and the checks had OUR name on them!

This is an incredibly frustrating situation that unfortunately affects more ERC recipients than most people realize. Based on your description, it sounds like there was likely a processing error where your EIN or business information got cross-referenced with another company's details in the Treasury payment system. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. File a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov. They handle cases involving potential fraud or systemic errors in tax processing. Your situation - where checks with your payment amounts were cashed by a completely different business - suggests either a processing error or potential fraud that TIGTA needs to investigate. 2. Document everything meticulously. Create a timeline showing when you filed for ERC, when payments should have been issued, when you filed Form 3911, and when you received the Bureau's response. Include copies of all correspondence and the fraudulent checks they sent you. 3. Consider filing a police report for check fraud. Even though these are government checks, someone cashing checks that weren't meant for them could constitute fraud, and having a police report number can help when dealing with government agencies. 4. Contact your congressional representative's office. They have direct lines to both the IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service that can often resolve cases that get stuck in normal channels. Bring all your documentation and explain that you're caught between two agencies that won't take responsibility. Don't give up - this kind of error is resolvable, but it requires persistence and the right approach. The fact that the amounts match your expected ERC payments but the business details are completely wrong strongly suggests a systematic processing error rather than a simple mix-up.

I went through almost the exact same nightmare with my ERC payments last year. What finally worked for me was getting everything escalated through the Treasury's Office of Inspector General (OIG), not just TIGTA. While TIGTA handles IRS issues, the Treasury OIG specifically deals with problems at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The key breakthrough came when I realized this wasn't just my problem - there was apparently a batch processing error that affected multiple businesses in early 2024. The Treasury OIG was already investigating similar cases and was able to fast-track my resolution once they saw the pattern. Here's what made the difference: I submitted a detailed complaint to Treasury OIG showing that the cashed checks had completely different business information but identical dollar amounts to my ERC claim. They immediately recognized this as part of their ongoing investigation into processing errors. Within 6 weeks of filing with Treasury OIG, I had replacement checks issued. The investigator explained that there was a data mapping error in their system that caused some ERC payments to be issued with correct amounts but wrong payee information from a different batch of applications. Don't just focus on TIGTA - make sure you also file with Treasury OIG since they have direct oversight over the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The combination of both agencies investigating really seems to move things along much faster.