Axtell Haller & Slachta COVID-19 Update: April 17, 2020
To our clients and friends.
We have had numerous calls over the last few days from clients asking questions about their rebate checks and what information is needed to use the new IRS portal that went live on April 15th.
On Monday, the IRS first started to issue rebate checks to taxpayers for whom they have bank information on file. This will then be followed by paper checks to those taxpayers that do not have bank information on file.
The online IRS portal for entering payment information and checking on the status of stimulus checks has just added a new feature. The application is called Get My Payment.
The Get My Payment tool allows taxpayers to check on the status of their stimulus payments and confirm whether the money is arriving via direct deposit or paper check. You can also enter new bank information if your direct deposit account is not on file.
The following is meant to be a step by step guide to help you navigate the portal to provide banking information.
Step 1
Go to IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/
This screen will appear. Click on “Get My Payment” on right side of screen
Step 2
This is the next screen that comes up. Click on “Get My Payment” button again. Please note that you will need the information from your 2019 return if you have already filed this year or your 2018 return if you have NOT filed 2019 Taxes.
Step 3
The next screen that appears is below. Click on “OK”
This is the first screen that comes up that you will be filling out.
Once you hit “continue”, the next screen that pops up is where you will need to put in your tax information from either 2018 or 2019. Questions to be answered:
AGI (Adjusted Gross Income Line 7B on your tax return),
“Refund” or “Owed”
Amount of either refund or owed (do not include commas or periods)
If you did not owe anything or did not have a refund, make sure you enter “0” in one of the boxes.
Step 4
The next screen that appears will ask for your Bank Routing Information and Bank Account.
Frequently asked questions & reminders:
- If you log in too many times, the website will lock you out for 24 hours.
- Remember to use the main taxpayer’s Social Security number or you might get an error message indicating that “no tax return has been filed”. This is the first social security number and name listed on the front page of your tax returns.
- You must use your 2019 Tax information IF you have filed 2019 taxes. If not—then use 2018 Tax information.
- Patience is required. If the system is overloaded, consider going online late at night or early in the morning.
- We have been told that if you used H&R Block or TurboTax there has been problems getting the payments.
- IRS has said that some of the other reasons your payments will be delayed includes:
- You are not eligible due to income limitations
- Your payment is based on your status as a social security recipient
- You have not filed 2018 or 2019 returns
- There is a problem verifying your identity
- As a reminder, you will eventually get your rebate check, but it may be part of your 2020 individual tax return.
Hope this information is helpful!
Amy, Linda & Rod