Tag Archive for: IRS

2nd stimulus check update:

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If you didn’t get payment, you can now ‘Free File’ with the IRS

If you don’t receive your second stimulus payment or if you never received the first stimulus, you will need to file a tax return to get the money.

On Friday, the IRS opened up Free File, free online tax preparation products, so taxpayers can claim a credit that will help them get their payment.

While the site is open, the IRS won’t be accepting electronic returns until Feb. 12 so it can take extra time program and test its system to handle the credits that apply to the second stimulus payments, it said.https://7efd4769829af622da3600cdc3bfb07f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

The IRS said leading tax software providers make their online products available for free as part of a 19-year partnership with the agency. There are nine products in English and two in Spanish, the IRS said.

More than 4 million people used the free products last year, the IRS said.

IRS Free File is available to any taxpayer or family that earned $72,000 or less in 2020.

“IRS Free File providers will accept completed tax returns and hold them until they can be filed electronically once the IRS begins processing returns,” the IRS said. “The Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, also will be available later when the filing season begins. This product is best for people comfortable preparing their own taxes and is safe and secure.”

The IRS said each IRS Free File provider sets its own eligibility rules for products based on age, income and state residency, but those who earn less than $72,000 a year will find at least one product for which they qualify.

The agency said people who did not receive a stimulus payment will need to claim a “Recovery Rebate Credit” on their federal returns to get the benefit.

In 2020, the IRS issued two stimulus payments, known as Economic Impact Payments.

The first payments were up to $1,200 person and $500 per qualifying child. The second payments were up to $600 per eligible person and $600 per qualifying child.

Know that the IRS had until Jan. 15 to send out all second stimulus payments. If you haven’t received one, a check or debit card could still come in the mail.

Use the IRS Get My Payment tool to see if a payment was sent to you.

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When You’ll Get Your Stimulus Check

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Want to know when your stimulus check will arrive?

Here’s what you need to know.

Stimulus Checks

For many Americans, stimulus checks will arrive soon. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said most Americans will receive their stimulus check by April 17. Director of the U.S. National Economic Council Larry Kudlow said checks will start going out this week or next. According to The Washington Post, which has reviewed a timetable from the IRS, stimulus checks could be distributed as follows (of course, these dates are subject to change):

April 9, 2020

Stimulus checks could be sent to some taxpayers as early as Thursday, April 9. If you filed your income taxes in 2018 or 2019 and provided your direct deposit information to the IRS, your stimulus check could be sent today. Estimated arrival time in your bank account could be on or before April 14, 2020.

April 24, 2020

The IRS will begin sending paper stimulus checks. The plan is to send paper stimulus checks to taxpayers with the lowest adjusted gross income first. Therefore, taxpayers who earned less than $10,000 will receive a paper check first.

May 1, 2020

This week, the IRS will send paper stimulus checks to taxpayers who earned between $10,001 and $20,000.

May 8, 2020

This week, the IRS will send paper stimulus checks to taxpayers who earned between $20,001 and $30,000.

May – September 2020

From May through September, the IRS will continue to send paper checks in order from lowest income to highest income based on 2018 or 2019 tax information.

September 4, 2020

The IRS will mail any remaining checks, such as to married couples making $198,000 (the maximum joint income that is eligible to receive a stimulus check).

September 11, 2020

The IRS will send checks to those who didn’t provide contact information to the IRS.

Can You Get Your Stimulus Check Sooner?

You may be able to get your stimulus check sooner (although no guarantees of course):

  • Check if you qualify to receive a stimulus check.
  • Direct Deposit Information: If you provided direct deposit information on your 2018 or 2019 income tax return, then the IRS already has your direct deposit information. How do you know if you provided your direct deposit information? If you paid federal income taxes online from your bank account or received a federal tax refund in your bank account, then you likely provided direct deposit information.
  • File Taxes: If you haven’t filed 2018 or 2019 income taxes, you can still file them. Make sure to provide direct deposit deposit information to get your stimulus check faster.
  • No Taxes, But Social Security: If you don’t file taxes, but you receive Social Security benefits, you don’t have to file any taxes to qualify. You’ll automatically receive a stimulus check.
  • New IRS Portal: In late April or early May, according to the memo, the IRS expects to create an online portal that will enable taxpayers to update their direct deposit information and check the status of their stimulus check. For those who don’t file taxes, but who receive Social Security benefits, you can also update your direct deposit information once the online portal is available.
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