Social Security numbers on checks.

[Jesse]

I had a client a few years ago send a copy (front and back cut to size) of her CANCELED check to the IRS to prove that payment had been made. You guessed it.. the IRS deposited the copy machine check and the bank paid them charging the taxpayer. It took more than a year to get it straight with the IRS and get a refund. Ha!

I would think this to be the banks fault, they should never have honored the check no matter who tried to cash it!

On another note, at a seminar a few years ago an IRS agent told us one reason it was stressed not to write out a check to the "IRS" was because dishonest IRS employees could too easily change the IRS to "MRS." whoever and deposit the check into their own account.