Financial Relief for Families Tax Credit – What to Expect With Your Check

The distribution of economic impact payments is expected to begin in the next three weeks and be available throughout the rest of 2020. With so much news circulating, it can be difficult to keep tabs on the latest updates. We also recognize it can be challenging to separate the legitimate updates from speculation. Below we have put together a summary of what we know so far about the economic impact payments.

Stimulus Payment Amounts

Stimulus Payment Distribution

For most people, no action is required, and economic impact payments will be distributed automatically. However, if you have not filed a return, you will need to submit a simple tax return in order to receive the stimulus payment.

Those not required to file a tax return include low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans, and some individuals with disabilities. They will not owe tax; however, they must file a 2019 tax return to receive an economic impact payment. The simple tax return will collect necessary information including their filing status, number of dependents, and direct deposit bank account. The IRS is expected to release instructions for people in these groups soon.

The IRS will use the information on your most recently submitted tax return to calculate your payment amount. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

If the IRS does not have your direct deposit information, a check will be mailed. However, to expedite this process, the Treasury has plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online. This is expected in the coming weeks and we will update this article when it is formally announced. The IRS will NOT call you to ask for your bank account information. There are already scams out there with people calling to ask for this information. Do not provide it to them.

The IRS has asked taxpayers not to call about economic impact payments. If you have questions, you should monitor the IRS website for updates.

If you have not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019, the IRS urges you to file as soon as possible. Please contact our office with questions or assistance in filing your 2018 or 2019 returns.