I got my tax refund, but it has my name and my husband's name on the check. How can I cash it if my husband is not in the states?
The problem with a check like this is that the IRS could receive a complaint from your spouse a year or more from now claiming that he did not receive benefit of the check. The IRS would review the endorsements and could agree with him. They could then go to the bank that cashed this check and take half the funds from the bank to give to your spouse.
If you have a joint account, you may be able to deposit it into that. This can provide evidence that being a joint account, he did receive some benefit. Still, some banks are very particular and may require that the check be endorsed by him also. The bank should have a signature specimen on file and can verify it if necessary.
Some banks may also accept a Power of Attorney if you have one. That allows you to endorse the check for him. Again, some banks are particular and they can opt to accept the POA or not.
Without a signature specimen on file, even sending him the check to be endorsed and returned may not meet the needs of a bank or other check cashing entity. They could require that you have his ID for evidence, but they have no obligation to even do this.
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The problem with a check like this is that the 