Can’t get through to IRS to ask about coronavirus stimulus? Here’s what to do
Are you a Social Security recipient who hasn’t received a payment and is confused about the process? Can’t get anyone at the Internal Revenue Service to help?
The simple answer to getting answers: Contact a tax professional. Contact your local congressman or senator. Access the Internal Revenue Service website.
And most important, “you just have to be patient,” said Janet Holtzblatt, a former Treasury Department official and now senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, a Washington research group.
“The good news is if you are eligible for a payment you will get the money,” she said. “It just may not be as speedy as some of the rhetoric says.”
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, and the difficulty of having personal contact either via call centers or taxpayer assistance offices, “The IRS has stopped all face-to-face service nationwide until further notice,” the agency says on its website.
Don’t try to call expecting a staff response. “IRS live phone assistance is not available at this time,” the agency advises, and urges people to go to IRS.gov.
Congressional offices are hearing about the stimulus along with other issues. At the office of Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, the biggest concern relates to the Paycheck Protection Program, the small business forgivable loan program that’s run out of money.
The office is also getting calls on the payments, and is noting that the IRS site is updated regularly because of technical issues and high traffic.
Many of the latest stimulus questions from readers involve Social Security and the stimulus. Here are some of the most frequent issues raised, and efforts to answer from the IRS, congressional staffs, the Social Security Administration, Holtzblatt and Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation:
Where’s my payment?
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients who filed tax returns for 2018 or 2019 should have started getting their payments last week if they filed tax returns with direct deposit information.
As for other Social Security and SSI beneficiaries, “At the end of April, adult Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability insurance beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019 will receive their rebates if they receive their Social Security benefits via direct deposit,” House Ways and Means Committee Democrats advise.
SSI recipients with deposit information on file should see payments by the first week in May.
Anyone who enters their direct deposit information into the IRS portals by Thursday will reportedly be paid the following week, Ways and Means reports..
If you get your benefits by paper check, those payments should start going out this week. Checks will go out first to lowest income earners.
Dependents and Social Security
If you and your spouse get Social Security benefits, support a child 16 or under who lives with you, and you did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, you can get a $500 payment for that child. IRS urges anyone in this situation to notify the agency by noon EDT Wednesday.
While the IRS will automatically calculate a stimulus payment for you and your spouse, you need to tell the IRS about the child using the Non-Filers: Enter payment Info Here website or file a federal tax return. You’ll be asked on the site to confirm eligibility, as well as full names and Social Security numbers for spouse and dependents, mailing address and bank account type, account and routing numbers if applicable.
“If the IRS does not receive this essential information by Wednesday, their (the consumer’s) payment will be $1,200 (this year) and the $500 per child will be paid to them with a return filing for tax year 2020,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement Monday. SSI recipients will have a later, still-unspecified deadline for providing the IRS with information.
Eligibility
Anyone with an adjusted gross income below $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a couple on their 2018 tax return (or 2019 if filed already) is eligible for the full $1,200 per adult payment. Each dependent child 16 and under is eligible for a $500 payment. The amounts then phase out until individuals earning more than $99,000 and married filing jointly who made $198,000 get no payment.
IRS lists as likely eligible anyone who is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or resident alien, has a Social Security number that is valid for employment, could not be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, and meets the income requirements.
Repaying debt to the government
Your payment will not be reduced if you have a payment program with the IRS or owe other debts to the federal government or your state government.
But your payment will be offset if you are past due on child support.
Disability
If you receive Social Security disability payments, “Social Security beneficiaries should receive their rebate through the bank account associated with receiving benefits,” the Tax Foundation says.
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 5:25 AM with the headline "Can’t get through to IRS to ask about coronavirus stimulus? Here’s what to do."
.jpg)