Here are some of the top questions regarding the Economic Impact Payments. Contact the Crosslin tax team at (615) 320-5500 if you need further clarification or have additional questions. We are here to help!
Is this payment considered taxable income?
No, the payment is not income and taxpayers will not owe tax on it. The payment will not reduce a taxpayer’s refund or increase the amount they owe when they file their 2020 tax return next year. A payment also will not affect income for purposes of determining eligibility for federal government assistance or benefit programs.
If someone’s bank account information has changed since they filed their last tax return, can they update it using Get My Payment?
To help protect against potential fraud, the tool does not allow people to change direct deposit bank account information already on file with the IRS.
If the IRS issues a direct deposit based on the account information that the taxpayer provided on their tax return and the bank information is now invalid or the account has been closed, the bank will reject the deposit. The agency will then mail payment as soon as possible to the address they have on file. Get My Payment will be updated to reflect the date a payment will be mailed. It will take up to 14 days to receive the payment, standard mailing time.
If I owe tax, or have a payment agreement with the IRS, or owe other federal or state debts, will my Payment be reduced as an offset?
No, with one exception. The payment may have been offset only by past-due child support. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service will send you a notice if an offset occurs.
If you are married filing jointly and you filed an injured spouse claim with your 2019 tax return (or 2018 tax return if you haven’t filed your 2019 tax return), half of the total Payment will be sent to each spouse and your spouse’s Payment will be offset only for past-due child support. There is no need to file another injured spouse claim for the Payment.
The IRS is aware that in some instances a portion of the payment sent to a spouse who filed an injured spouse claim with his or her 2019 tax return (or 2018 tax return if no 2019 tax return has been filed) has been offset by the non-injured spouse’s past-due child support. The IRS is working with the Bureau of Fiscal Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. If you filed an injured spouse claim with your return and are impacted by this issue, you do not need to take any action. The injured spouse will receive their unpaid half of the total payment when the issue is resolved.
Can people who receive a Form SSA-1099 or RRB-1099 use Get My Payment to check their payment status?
Yes, they will be able to use Get My Payment to check the status of their payment after verifying their identity by answering the required security questions.
Does someone who has died qualify for the Payment?
No. A payment made to someone who died before receipt of the Payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions about repayments. Return the entire Payment unless the Payment was made to joint filers and one spouse had not died before receipt of the Payment, in which case, you only need to return the portion of the Payment made on account of the decedent. This amount will be $1,200 unless adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000.
What should I do to return an Economic Impact Payment (EIP)?
You should return the payment as described below.
If the payment was a paper check: (and not cashed)
Write “Void” in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
Mail the voided Treasury check immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.
Don’t staple, bend, or paper clip the check.
Include a note stating the reason for returning the check.
If the payment was a paper check and you have cashed it, or if the payment was a direct deposit:
Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.
Write on the check/money order made payable to “U.S. Treasury” and write 2020EIP, and the taxpayer identification number (social security number, or individual taxpayer identification number) of the recipient of the check.
Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the EIP.
For your paper check, here are the IRS mailing addresses for Tennessee: Memphis Refund Inquiry Unit, 5333 Getwell Rd Mail, Stop 8422, Memphis, TN 38118
