Most Common Stimulus Check Problems and How to Solve It

By Madelaine D. First Posted: Aug 12, 2020 08:13 AM EDT

Stimulus check problems occur on unexpected days. The National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) promised to help some taxpayers who have missing or incomplete stimulus check payments, as per Forbes.

Based on the article, the NTA has explained the problems that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will solve for individuals receiving a check and how the taxpayers can claim the correct stimulus check on their 2020 tax return.

The NTA also tackled the cases the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) could handle and how you can get help.

According to Erin M. Collins of the NTA, their organization continues to discuss these issues with the IRS. Collins said the IRS agreed to correct EIP errors in different categories of cases.

Here are the following solutions to some common stimulus check problems:

If you are a victim of identity theft and did not receive a check or received an incorrect amount, the check you have can still be adjusted as part of the identity theft case. Contact the IRS to solve the issue, and the TAS can also help you solve your problem so you can receive the proper stimulus check or amount.
The IRS is currently issuing payments for the Non-Filer Tool. If you are one of the people who used the tool before May 17 and claimed one qualifying child but did not receive the stimulus check portion of the attributable to the qualified child, you need nothing to do since it's still in process. However, if you don't receive a check of the portion by the end of August, you can tell your TAS concerns.
Are you an injured spouse but do not have a Form 8370 for the return used to compute your stimulus check and the portion to withhold? What you need to do is fax or mail a completed Form 8379 as soon as possible. To download Form 8379, click here. Wait after you submit the form. If you did not receive a stimulus check for the attributable portion by the end of August, call the TAS.
Either you return the stimulus check, stopped, or not issued based on a joint return with a deceased or incarcerated spouse, wait for the process of the IRS to finish the recalculation of the stimulus check. The IRS will make direct deposits or mail paper checks in the coming weeks. However, by mid-September, if you have not received a check, call the TAS.
The IRS recently identified a Math Error based on a 2918 and 2019 tax return. If the amount of the check you received was based on that year, wait for the IRS to process. They should release the payment automatically.
If the Math Error, which the IRS identified, has not been resolved, you need to coordinate with IRS to correct the mistake before the stimulus check can be adjusted and paid. To receive your check, you may also ask for help from TAS.

Most Common Stimulus Check Problems and How to Solve It

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Taxpayers who need additional information can contact the stimulus check-toll free line of the IRS at 1.800.919.9835. Meanwhile, if you are eligible for other payment, you must have the tracking information. The tracking information is vital to use the "Get My Payment" tool on the IRS website.

If the above solutions don't fit to solve your problem with the IRS, then you are qualified for the direct assistance of TAS. You may reach TAS toll-free at 1.877.777.4778.

Usually, TAS assists taxpayers who encounter financial difficulty, hardship, emergency, or delays with the IRS procedures. The TAS is needed for such cases that require "coordinator" or "traffic cop" to ensure that every organization is doing their responsibilities.

For other instances, including changes in the birth of a child in 2019 or 2020 and finances, you need to wait until next year to receive additional payments. Some of those instances include:

If you did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return and didn't receive information return (RRB 1099 or SSA 1099), SSI, or VA benefits, you have not used it Non-Filer Tool by October 15, 2020.
Use the Non-Filer Tool by October 15, 2020, to receive the stimulus check-in 2020 if you did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return or if you did not receive an information return (RRB 1099 or SSA 1099), SSI, or VA benefits.
You can also claim your stimulus check even when you file your tax return for 2020 in 2021. This solution is applicable for a case in which the taxpayer did not file a 2018 or 2019 tax return, and you don't receive information return (SSA 1099 or RRB 1099), SSI, or VA benefits.
You can reconcile when you file your 2020 tax return in 2021 if your stimulus check is based on your original file return and you filed an amended return later that increased the check.
You may also fix the problem if your stimulus check was computed on your 2018 tax return, and you want it to be calculated on your 2019 return. This problem is reconcilable when you file your 2020 tax return in 2021.
If the stimulus check you have is based on the information return (RRB 1099 or SSA 1099), SSI, or VA benefits provided to IRS and you filed a 2019 tax return or used Non-Filer Tool, which will increase your stimulus check amount, then you can submit your 2020 tax return on 2021 to reconcile the difference.
You can reconcile as well with the difference if you file your 2021 tax return in 2021. This is for those who receive RRB/SSA, VA, or SSI benefits and are deemed ineligible for a stimulus check due to claiming a dependent on another individual's 2019 tax return.