Tag Archive for: stimulus checks

American Relief Act and EIP 3

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EIP 3 Payments: Treasury successfully processed 90 million payments this past week using direct deposit for the stimulus (EIP 3) payments representing about $242 billion.  In addition, they did send out approximately 150 thousand checks for $442 million for EIP recipients.   The next round of EIP 3 for this coming week will be about 30 million payments. The IRS expects to continue to send out payments weekly until they cover everyone in which they have information.  

Other Elements of the Relief Act that impacts the Tax Preparation community:   There were also a number of tax law changes in that bill that impact taxpayer not only for next year but also this current filing season.  

Unemployment Compensation Exemption The act makes the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits tax-free for 2020 tax returns in this current filing season.  This retroactive benefit is intended for each person with incomes less that $150,000.   The IRS will be providing guidance soon on how to handle this feature on not only already filed returns, but also for 2020 returns you are preparing now and in the future.  Look out for news from IRS very soon on this topic.  

Child Tax Care Credits Increased The act also increased the amount of the tax credit for 2021 tax returns for next tax season, to $3000 per child, as well as liberalizing some of the rules on the existing credit.  One of the features in the act was to instruct the IRS to make prorated payments of this new credit to those qualifying starting later in 2020.    

The IRS will provide guidance on this feature later in the year as well as instruction on options and tools to opt out of the prepayment feature.  
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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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