Still waiting on your IRS coronavirus check? A couple things could be delaying it
Many people are still waiting on their coronavirus checks from the Internal Revenue Service, part of the $2 trillion CARES Act approved by Congress a month ago.
The IRS says it has updated its online tools for people still waiting on the funds. The agency also gave more guidance on who can get the $1,200 check and how to make sure the payment gets to the right bank account.
People who owed taxes in the last two years likely have to use the IRS “Get my payment” web app to put their bank account information in the system. The same goes for people who filed taxes but did not include direct deposit information.
“The IRS is working hard to find new ways for people who don’t have a filing requirement to receive their Economic Impact Payment,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement this week.
He said the IRS and its partners just released a Spanish version of the online tools for people who don’t have to file a tax return to be able to get their money. “This is part of a wider effort to reach underserved communities,” he said.
“The Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool is designed for people with incomes typically below $24,400 for married couples or less than $12,200 for single people. This includes couples and individuals who are homeless. People can qualify, even if they do not work,” the IRS said.
People who make less than $75,000 a year will get $1,200 from the CARES Act and married couples making less than $150,000 are entitled to $2,400. The amount on the check is less for individuals making more than $75,000. The IRS is also adding $500 for each dependent child under 17.
Anyone claimed as a dependent 17 or older, such as a college student claimed by their parents, will not get a check and the parents will not get extra money.
The IRS said it doesn’t know how many people there are who do not need to file taxes but are entitled to a CARES Act check. “So, the only way to get the Economic Impact Payment is to register with the IRS,” the agency said.
People who filed 2018 or 2019 taxes with direct deposit information may already have their payment. If you did not include your bank account on your last tax filing, check the IRS’s “Get my payment” tool and it will give you an option to add bank account information.
“Similarly, anyone who needs to file either a 2018 or 2019 return should not use this tool, but instead they should file their tax returns. This includes anyone who files a return to claim various tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-and moderate-income workers and working families,” according to a news release.
The agency warned that some people who need to file their taxes are trying to use the tools for people who are not required to file. ”The IRS urges people with a filing requirement to avoid complications later with the IRS, and file properly without using the Non-Filer tool,” the IRS said.
The IRS said it plans to send letters to each person who got a check to make sure the money arrived to the right place.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 9:05 AM with the headline "Still waiting on your IRS coronavirus check? A couple things could be delaying it."
