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Nov. 21 Is Deadline for People Who Don’t File Taxes to Get Stimulus Check

Robin Hartill, CFP®

by Robin Hartill, CFP®

Senior Editor

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This post refers to stimulus checks issued in 2020. For the most up-to-date info, check out our recent tax articles.

If you still haven’t received your stimulus check because you don’t file a tax return, you have until Nov. 21 to claim your payment. Doing so takes just a few minutes and could put an extra $1,200 or more in your pocket.

The IRS has a feature on its website that allows you to register for your coronavirus relief check if you aren’t required to file a tax return. The Non-filers Enter Payment Info Here feature debuted on the IRS website in April.

Here’s all of our coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, which we will be updating every day.

Using the free feature, you can get your stimulus payment without filing a tax return by providing your:

  • Name
  • Mailing address and email address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account number and routing number, if you have one
  • Identity Protection PIN if you received one from the IRS earlier this year. (An IP PIN is a six-digit number that the IRS assigns to identity theft victims whose account issues have been resolved.)
  • Driver’s license or state ID number, if you have one

You’ll also need to provide the name of each child you’re claiming as a dependent, their Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number, and their relationship to you and your spouse.

If you receive Social Security, SSI, SSDI, veteran’s or Railroad Retirement benefits but didn’t get your $500 for a child under 17, you also need to register by Nov. 21 to receive the payment.

Who Should Use the Non-Filers Tool for Coronavirus Payments?

You can use the tool if you haven’t gotten a stimulus check and aren’t required to file a tax return because your gross income for 2019 was below $12,200 if you’re single or $24,400 if you’re married. If you’ve already filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return or you plan to do so, you should NOT use this feature.

When Should You Still File a Tax Return?

Using the non-filer feature is probably a safe bet if you didn’t earn income in 2018 or 2019. But if you had some type of income, consider using a free tax filing program to determine whether you’re eligible for any tax credits first. You can prepare a draft return and then use the non-filer feature if you don’t find any you qualify for.

One credit you may have overlooked is the Earned Income Tax Credit. As of December 2019, about 25 million Americans with low or middle incomes qualified for the credit, which averaged $2,459. But about 21% of them missed out on that free money because they never claimed the credit.

But whether you use the non-filer tool or file a tax return, it’s important that you do so quickly to get your payment — and that you provide your bank account information.

Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior editor at The Penny Hoarder. She writes the Dear Penny personal finance advice column. Send your tricky money questions to [email protected].

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