By Congressman Joe Courtney.
Last week, the Treasury and IRS launched a new free-to-use tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments – the direct payments authorized by the bipartisan CARES Act. The tool was created as an option for those who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file.
If you have not filed federal taxes for 2018 or 2019 and do not receive Social Security benefits, I strongly encourage you to go to IRS.gov as soon as possible and enter your payment information into the system so that you do not have your Economic Impact Payment delayed.
To access the tool:
- Visit IRS.gov and click on “Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here”
- Fill out your information. This will be used to confirm eligibility, calculate and send your Economic Impact Payment.
- Entering your bank or financial account information will allow the IRS to deposit your payment directly in your account. Otherwise, your payment will be mailed to you.
- Note from the IRS: “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info” is secure, and the information entered will be safe. The tool is based on Free File Fillable Forms, part of the Free File Alliance’s offerings of free products on IRS.gov .
Who can use this tool?
This new tool is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don’t receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits. Others who should consider the Non-Filers tool as an option, include:
- Lower income: Among those who could use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info tool are those who haven’t filed a 2018 or 2019 return because they are under the normal income limits for filing a tax return. This may include single filers who made under $12,200 and married couples making less than $24,400 in 2019.
- For Veterans beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients: The IRS continues to explore ways to see if Economic Impact Payments can be made automatically to SSI recipients and those who receive veterans disability compensation, pension or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and who did not file a tax return for the 2018 or 2019 tax years. People in these groups can either use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info option now or wait as the IRS continues to review automatic payment options to simplify delivery for these groups.
- Social Security, SSDI and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries with qualifying dependents: These groups will automatically receive $1,200 Economic Impact Payments. People in this group who have qualifying children under age 17 may use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info to claim the $500 payment per child.
- Students and others: If someone else claimed you on their tax return, you will not be eligible for the Economic Impact Payment or using the Non-Filer tool.
Additional Information:
To help everyone check on the status of their payments, the IRS is building a second new tool expected to be available for use by April 17. The “Get My Payment” tool will provide people with the status of their payment, including the date their payment is scheduled to be deposited into their bank account or mailed to them. The feature will also allow eligible people a chance to provide their bank account information so they can receive their payment more quickly rather than waiting for a paper check. This feature will be unavailable if the Economic Impact Payment has already been scheduled for delivery.
More Information on Economic Impact Payments The IRS will post additional updates on IRS.gov/coronavirus on these and other issues. 
For more information on the resources available for workers, small businesses, students, veterans, and more, visit my resource page at courtney.house.gov/COVID19 .
As always, if you have any additional questions or comments, you can reach me through my website here , or by voicemail at 860-886-0139 and a staff member will reach out.
