Coronavirus Economic Impact Payments
Wondering how to access your coronavirus stimulus check? Haven’t filed taxes in 2018 or 2019? Or don’t have direct deposit information set up with the IRS and don’t want to wait on a coronavirus stimulus check?
Economic Impact Payments: Who is Eligible for a Coronavirus Stimulus Check?
U.S. residents will receive a coronavirus stimulus check (or economic impact payment) of $1,200 for individual or head of household filers. Those who are married filing jointly will receive $2,400 if they are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work-eligible Social Security number. This is for those with adjusted gross income up to:
- $75,000 for individuals
- $112,500 for head of household filers and
- $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns
Taxpayers will receive a reduced payment if their AGI is between:
- $75,000 and $99,000 if their filing status was single or married filing separately
- 112,500 and $136,500 for head of household
- $150,000 and $198,000 if their filing status was married filing jointly
The amount of the reduced payment will be based upon the taxpayer’s specific adjusted gross income.
Eligible retirees and recipients of Social Security, Railroad Retirement, disability or veterans’ benefits as well as taxpayers who do not make enough money to normally have to file a tax return will receive a payment. This also includes those who have no income, as well as those whose income comes entirely from certain benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Retirees who receive either Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement benefits will also receive payments automatically.
What do I need to do to be sure I get my coronavirus stimulus check or payment?
If you have already filed your tax returns this year for 2019, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. If you haven’t filed yet for 2019 but filed a 2018 federal tax return, the IRS will use the information from 2018 tax filings to make the Economic Impact Payment calculations.
Social Security and Railroad Retirement recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return don’t need to take action. The IRS will use the information on Form SSA-1099 and Form RRB-1099 to generate Economic Impact Payments of $1,200 to these individuals even if they did not file tax returns. Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by check, just as they would normally receive their benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients are also part of this group who don’t need to take action.
What if I have not provided my banking information to the IRS and don’t want to wait for my coronavirus stimulus check?
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS will launch the “Get My Payment” app next week. The FREE app will allow taxpayers who filed their tax return in 2018 or 2019 but did not provide their banking information on their return to submit direct deposit information. Once they do, they will get their Economic Impact Payments in their bank accounts quickly. The app will also allow taxpayers to track the status of their payment.
“Get My Payment” is an online app that will display on any desktop, phone or tablet.
For taxpayers to track the status of their payment, they will need to enter basic information in the “Get My Payment” app:
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
- Mailing address
- Taxpayers who want to add their bank account information to speed receipt of their payment will also need to provide the following additional information:
- Their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recent tax return submitted, either 2019 or 2018
- The refund or amount owed from their latest filed tax return
- Bank account type, account and routing numbers
Americans who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 can click “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” to submit basic personal information to quickly and securely receive their payments.
Americans who filed 2018 or 2019 tax returns with direct deposit information or receive Social Security do not need to do anything. They will automatically receive payment in their bank accounts.
“Get My Payment” cannot update bank account information after a payment has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal information.
Please visit IRS.gov for updates on the launch of the “Get My Payment” app.
Beware of Coronavirus Stimulus Check Scams
Be on the lookout for calls and email phishing attempts about COVID-19 and, especially, the coronavirus stimulus check.
“We urge people to take extra care during this period. The IRS isn’t going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “That also applies to surprise emails that appear to be coming from the IRS. Remember, don’t open them or click on attachments or links. Go to IRS.gov for the most up-to-date information.”
Taxpayers should watch for emails, text messages, websites and social media attempts that request money or personal information.
Scammers may:
- Ask the taxpayer to sign over their economic impact payment check to them.
- Ask by phone, email, text or social media for verification of personal and/or banking information. They may say that the information is needed to receive or speed up the payment.
- Suggest that they can get a tax refund or economic impact payment faster by working on the taxpayer’s behalf. This scam could be conducted by social media or even in person.
- Mail the taxpayer a bogus check, perhaps in an odd amount. They often then tell the taxpayer to call a number or verify information online in order to cash it.
What to Do
If you receive unsolicited emails, text messages or social media attempts to gather information that appear to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
Taxpayers are encouraged not to engage potential scammers online or on the phone. Learn more about reporting suspected scams by going to the Report Phishing and Online Scams page on IRS.gov.
Official information about the coronavirus pandemic and economic impact payments can be found on the Coronavirus Tax Relief page on IRS.gov.
