The Internal Revenue Service has processed over 159 million Economic Impact Payments, also known as EIPs or stimulus checks. While the IRS has now sent payments to a high percentage of qualifying Americans, a recent statement from the government agency indicates that a significant number of non-filers still need to receive their stimulus checks. The IRS is reminding non-filers who have not received their stimulus check that they need to register using the IRS Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov in order to receive their payment. They’re also encouraging non-filers to register for their stimulus check by October 15 so that they will receive their check by the end of this year.
Why Non-Filers Haven’t Received Stimulus Checks
According to the IRS, many non-filers have not received their Economic Impact Payments because the IRS does not have their information.
Most qualifying Americans had their COVID-19 related stimulus checks processed automatically, as the IRS had enough information on file to determine their eligibility and to know where to send their payment. The IRS looked at information connected to 2018 income tax returns, 2019 income tax returns, Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Veterans Affairs in order to automatically process payments for numerous qualifying individuals.
While the IRS could process many payments based on information they already had on file, many non-filers need to submit their information through the IRS’s Non-Filers tool in order to have their payment processed. Note that the Non-Filers tool is different from the IRS Get My Payment tool. The Get My Payment tool is for anyone who wants to check on their stimulus payment status, while the Non-Filers tool is only for non-filers who need to submit their personal information to the IRS to receive their stimulus payment.
Confusion Surrounding Non-Filers and Stimulus Checks
It’s thought that some non-filers may not have registered to receive their stimulus check because they may not know they are eligible. There is some confusion surrounding non-filer eligibility due to an early version of the CARES Act, the coronavirus pandemic relief bill that mandated stimulus payments be sent out to certain Americans. In an early version of the CARES Act, a citizen needed to be working, receiving Social Security, or receiving pension income to qualify for a check. If that version of the bill had been passed in the House and the Senate, it would have excluded non-filers who don’t file taxes due to a lack of income. However, the version of the CARES Act that passed in Congress and was signed into law by President Trump doesn’t require earned income or the filing of a federal tax return in order to qualify for an Economic Impact Payment, which means non-filers can be eligible.
Non-Filer Tool: How Non-Filers Can Register for Their Stimulus Check
Non-filers can register to receive their coronavirus stimulus check using the IRS Non-Filer tool on the IRS website. This tool will ask for some basic information, such as your name, date of birth, social security number, address, bank account information (needed as direct deposit information), and information on any qualifying children. The IRS will use this information to determine your eligibility, after which they will begin processing your payment if you are eligible. According to the IRS website, they are currently sending stimulus payments through direct debit, mailed paper checks, and mailed prepaid debit cards.
Note that the IRS is strongly encouraging non-filers to register for their stimulus check by October 15. According to the recent IRS statement, qualifying individuals who register using the Non-Filers tool by October 15 will receive their stimulus checks by the end of the year.
The IRS is also encouraging people to spread the word about their Non-Filers tool, since it’s thought that many qualifying individuals may just not be aware of the tool. IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig has said, “Registering to receive the payments is easy, and millions of non-filers have already taken this step. We urge everyone to share this information widely to help more people receive these payments.”