TOPLINE
While the debate in Washington about a possible second round of economic impact payments continues, the first round of checks are still in process for some Americans, and on Monday, the IRS announced that it will add a staff of 3,500 people to help answer questions.
The IRS announced that it is adding phone support staff to answer questions about those $1,200 … [+] direct payments.
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KEY FACTS
The IRS says it will add more assistance as state and local areas permit, but it cautions that phone services will remain very limited.
Most answers to common questions about stimulus payments can be found on IRS.gov, and the agency encourages checking the website first to help answer any questions.
The IRS’s online “Get My Payment” tool has been plagued by glitches, however, with many still struggling to access basic information about their payments.
The first payments went out via direct deposit during the week of April 15, with paper checks mailed each week after that.
Back in April, the IRS said it aimed to send out payments to benefit roughly 150 million Americans, or more than 80 million households, in total.
The IRS says the phone number to call will be provided in a letter that confirms your stimulus payment has been issued (Notice 1444).
Big number
During the first four weeks of the program (ending May 8), the IRS said that approximately 130 million individuals received payments worth more than $200 billion.
Key background
The $2.2 trillion CARES Act, signed by President Trump in March, authorized the first round of stimulus checks: $1,200 for individuals making less than $75,000 per year, or $2,400 for couples filing jointly with less than $150,000 per year in income, with $500 for each child under 17.
Tangent
The IRS also issued guidance this month for returning checks sent in error to deceased or incarcerated individuals. Since stimulus payment eligibility was based on 2018 or 2019 tax filings (and because the payments were sent out very quickly) many checks were sent to the accounts of deceased or ineligible Americans.
What to watch for
The Heroes Act, passed by the House of Representatives last Friday, includes a provision for a second round of direct payments. It’s unlikely, however, that the bill will pass in the Senate in its current form (Republicans, wary of more government spending, have called it “dead on arrival”). The next few weeks are likely to bring legislative compromise that could affect the chances of another round of checks for Americans.
Further reading
Here’s How Likely You Really Are To Get Another $1,200 Stimulus Check (Forbes)
5 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get A Stimulus Check (Forbes)
White House Could Support More Stimulus Checks, Report Says (Forbes)
Lawmakers Are Bitterly Divided Over How To Get More Stimulus Cash To Americans (Forbes)
