Stimulus Checks: The IRS Will Contact You If You Don't File Tax Returns

By Madelaine D. First Posted: Sep 20, 2020 11:27 PM EDT

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would start contacting the nine million individuals who might qualify for a $1,200 stimulus check this week.

The stimulus checks to be distributed by the IRS to the nine million possible eligible individuals were authorized under the CARES Act. However, those nine million that IRS will contact have not yet received any stimulus checks.

The people who will receive the checks include the group of nonfilers who are not required to file federal tax returns for the past two years, but they are not aware that they needed to complete the IRS online form to claim their money.

As of August, there are at least 160 million payments sent by the IRS through mailed checks, direct deposit, and prepaid EIP debit cards.

The agency is now working on contacting those who may still owe a payment that includes Americans with dependents that receive a missing portion of their check and have until September 30 to file their situation.

Stimulus Checks: The IRS Would Contact You If You Don't File Tax Returns

(Photo : Chip Somodevilla)
IRS Calls For Some Employees To Return To Offices To Deal With Backlog WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 27: The Internal Revenue Service headquarters building appeared to be mostly empty April 27, 2020 in the Federal Triangle section of Washington, DC. The IRS called about 10,000 volunteer employees back to work Monday at 10 of its mission critical locations to work on taxpayer correspondence, handling tax documents, taking telephone calls and other actions related to the tax filing season.

According to CNET, the nine million beneficiaries might still own relief money, which the IRS is mailing guidelines in notification letters this week. The second stimulus check payment is separate from the $1,200 stimulus checks that the IRS is informing the people.

The next round of stimulus checks is currently on the tables and being discussed in Washington as part of a greater COVID-19 relief package.

Those who used the non-filers tool need to request their payment until October 15. After the said date, only through filing a federal income tax return could you claim the payment. It is the only way to get the payment when the deadline lapsed.

The IRS will send IRS Notice 1444-A to those who might be eligible for the $1,200 stimulus checks, which will start on September 24.

From an IRS address, the letter will be mailed, said the agency. You can see a copy of the letter here (PDF File) written in English and Spanish.

How to claim your payment?

The letter directs you to utilize the IRS Non-filers tool if you are not required to file a federal tax return. The tool will allow you to provide the necessary information to claim your stimulus payment.

On the other hand, the letter will direct you to electronically file your 2019 tax return immediately if you were required to file your federal taxes, but you are not able to do it. Then, you can use the IRS' Get My Payment to check the status of your money.