The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced Monday that it is extending the deadline to claim stimulus checks for five more weeks or until Nov. 21.

Stimulus
(Photo : Reutersconnect)

Millions of qualified individuals across the U.S. are still waiting for their stimulus checks until today. Many of them were not able to update their 2018 or 2019 income tax returns or did not file because the law does not require them.

It can be remembered that the IRS has already announced that they will be sending over nine million letters to potential recipients of stimulus checks and dependent payments. The IRS initially set the deadline on Oct. 15. But on Monday, the agency extended it until Nov. 21. 

"We took this step to provide more time for those who have not yet received a payment to register to get their money, including those in low-income and underserved communities," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a news release.

The IRS letter is written both in English and Spanish to make sure that it will be easily understood by the Latino and Hispanic minorities, who are more likely to receive the stimulus checks but were not sure if they qualified for the relief payments.

According to a USA Today report, the extension of the deadline is for those who do not typically file or update their tax return and the IRS estimated that there are millions of them. They are mostly people living on limited incomes and usually use the money to pay the rent, cover grocery bills, handle car repairs, and pay for other essentials. 

It is still unclear how many in the over nine million individuals, who received a letter, are qualified for the stimulus checks and dependent payments. According to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the IRS and Treasury Department are not sure about the number of eligible individuals. 

The IRS is urging those who were not able to receive their stimulus checks or did not file their income tax return to enter their personal information at the "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info" tool on IRS.gov/eip before the new Nov. 21 midnight ET deadline. 

"The IRS is deeply involved in processing and programming that overlaps filing seasons. Any further extension beyond November would adversely impact our work on the 2020 and 2021 filing seasons. The Non-filers portal has been available since the spring and has been used successfully by many millions of Americans," Rettig said.

A single person can receive up to $1,200 in stimulus cash. Married couples can receive up to $2,400. People with qualifying children ages 16 or younger at the end of 2019 can get up to an extra $500 for each child. The same amount will be given under the CARES Act. 

Meanwhile, if you cannot claim your stimulus checks, this will fall as a credit next year once you file your income tax return. It is recommended to file before the deadline to receive the money before the year ends.

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