Unsigned Check

Here's what could happen: They will mail back the check to you and ask for a signature. You will also pay interest and penalties for paying your tax late but before October 15 -- so around 1% a month.

And then again, I forgot to sign a check earlier this year and my bank called me to ask about the oversight. But then I am a 'good' customer, a hell of a nice guy, and have a youthful appearance - one out of three ain't bad.

Dick

The government will:

A--Deposit it, or

B--Return it to you.

If they deposit it your bank will:

A--Pay it, or

B--Bounce it.

I wouldn't bet that anyone on either end of the transaction will notice that it's unsigned. I'd call the bank and ask them if there's a way to prevent it from bouncing, but other than that your best action now is wait and see what happens.

You should know within a week of mailing if IRS didn't put it through for payment. If the check doesn't clear your next failure to pay penalty accrual date is 6/15, so as long as you get it fixed by then you'll minimize any monetary damages on the IRS side.

Or they might just deposit it and it might get cashed anyway. I've had this happen (someone other than the IRS).

I've also sent checks to the wrong business, who was able to successfully cash it, and didn't that cause me grief getting that straightened out.

No signature could be a problem. However, I once signed a check as Mickey Mouse and it went through - so as long as it's legitimate and cashed, don't worry about it.