[Update] – All past stimulus (economic impact) payments need to now be claimed via filing a tax return for the applicable tax year the stimulus check was paid.
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2020-2021 Stimulus Check Payments
More than 120 million stimulus payments have been made by the IRS and associated Economic Impact Payment (EIP) letters have recently been received by many of these recipients (see example below) outlining/confirming payment details.
However the EIP letter has been of little help to the millions of Americans facing one or more issues with their stimulus checks such as either not being correct or missing key supplementary items like the $500 child payment. Some readers have posted their thoughts on the EIP letter they have received:
Maritza Lozano said, “This is bogus. I got the letter and the only thing it tells you is that your receiving the amount based on your 2019 or 2018 income tax and an extra 500 for qualifying child under 17 mine turned 16 in December 30 2019 and I already called the number it has it’s 1-800-919-9835 and it’s automated so how am I suppose too file a complaint if it’s not human this is bogus I swear I know I’m not the only one here in this situation.
The letter doesn’t indicate what to do to report a missing payment. Just an automated phone system with the included number“
Jennifer kick said, “I owe back child support and my son is now 19. I’m currently receiving SSI a whole $786 monthly. The IRS website says my check is due to be mailed on April 24th??? Am I getting a check or am I going to get a letter saying they took it for child support?.….5 days later: “I got a letter saying mine was being deposited last Wednesday and then Friday I got a letter that it had been taken for back child support”
Yvette said on , “So, I received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) letter today. I’m in the same boat as every parent that has not received the 500 for their children/dependents. I received the 1200 and nothing for them. In any case the number does provide a number to call, but don’t get your hopes up.
At least not at this point. The number is just an automatic system giving a long message about what and who qualifies, and there are options to listen to more messages but that’s it. I went through each option prompt and it just gave a message for each, said thanks for contacting the IRS and disconnected.
In addition the website is no help because although it indicates letters will be sent, which mine was with no help, and my payment status just indicates 1200 already sent with no options to get this fixed. IRS toll line still has no one taking live calls. For anyone interested the numbers I’ve called are below:
IRS Line 1800-829-1040
EIP Letter IRS 1800-919-9835
I’m giving the number that is included in the EIP letter, because I am hoping that someone else will have better luck than I did.
Beverly Martinez said, “Got my letter from the IRS stating i was to get 1700.00 but on the deposit from the IRS they only deposited 1,200.00. Tried to call the IRS with no one to talk too. When do I do to get my 500.00 for my daughter? She does qualify.” [It was surprising to hear that the direct deposit was different to the EIP letter amount!]
I really was hoping the EIP letter would have been more useful, and seems more like political propaganda based on the fact it has the White house seal and overly large Presidential signature. What are your thoughts?
