Updated IRS Non-Filer Tool For Claiming 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit, Missing or Under Paid Stimulus Checks Including For Dependent Payments

[Updated with new IRS tool] The IRS has finally released their updated tool for non-filers to register for the soon to be paid Advance Child Tax Credit payments (see schedule here). Individuals and families who are not required to file a 2020 tax return or have not used this tool last year (for stimulus checks) will be able be able to use the Non-filer Sign-up tool on the IRS site to submit changes in income, update payment details, adjust filing status or number of qualifying children.

IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig has said that the new tool will not only help more people easily gain access to to the expanded CTC, but also obtain an Economic Impact Payment.

Note that if you already filed a recent tax return, you should not use this tool as it is specifically designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 and who did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to register for Economic Impact Payments.


[March 2021 update] President Biden recently signed an executive order to address issues with payment of the stimulus checks (economic impact payments) to millions of Americans. While the IRS has successfully paid out over 80% of stimulus payments to millions of Americans and their child dependents, there have been many challenges for thousands of Americans who are still waiting for their stimulus payments or didn’t realize their are eligible for one. Groups that don’t file tax returns (non-filers) which include lower income earners and those getting social security or disability benefits have been hit particularly hard when it comes to getting their stimulus checks.

To ensure equitable and effective delivery of direct payments and focus on getting relief to eligible individuals who have not received the financial assistance to which they are entitled, the President is asking the Department of Treasury via Executive order to consider taking a series of actions to expand and improve delivery of Economic Impact Payments (a.k.a stimulus checks) including establishing online tools for claiming their payments, working to make sure that those who have not yet accessed their funds get the relief they deserve, and analyzing unserved households to inform additional outreach efforts.

As many as 8 million households may be eligible for but have not yet received the first round of stimulus payments from the CARES Act signed in March 2020; many of these households could be legally entitled to as much as $1,200 per adult (and $500 per child). A similar or larger number of households may have also missed out on the $600 second stimulus check for adults and their child dependents.

As a result the treasury department has committed to take the following actions via the IRS.

Establish online tools for non-filers to claiming their missing or incorrect stimulus payments:. Treasury and IRS will build out existing tools (e.g. the non-filer tool) to create simple and multi-lingual options for people who have not filed an income tax return to do so.

Work to reach households who were issued, but did not cash stimulus payments: Hundreds of thousands of stimulus checks and debit cards have not been cashed or activated by recipients; e.g. due to incorrect mailing address or mistakenly discarded deliveries. The IRS and Treasury will implement procedures and undertake advanced demographic analysis for unclaimed benefits or conduct outreach with those who did not claim their benefits.

They are still going to encourage those missing checks to claim them as a recovery rebate credit when filing their 2020 tax return (e.g. via TurboTax) while taking steps to prevent fraud by – for example – turning off previously-issued debit cards when new payments are made.

Video providing an overview of the new IRS tool and when it could come out

Full Video new IRS Tool For Claiming Stimulus Payments

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13 thoughts on “Updated IRS Non-Filer Tool For Claiming 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit, Missing or Under Paid Stimulus Checks Including For Dependent Payments”

  1. I need answers I have been on disability since 2011 or before due to my health. I am only getting $470 a month and told I can’t work. I used to get paid the 1st and 3rd and now only the 3rd. How am I supposed to live off that, now I am on the street. How do I get what I should get?

    Reply
  2. I understand your office is very busy so I am so sorry but I need help. Or a question answered please. I checked get my payment a few days ago and it said will be mailed on march 24th 2021. I went back yesterday March 20th and now get my payment shows nothing for me. What the heck happened this is so confusing. Please tell me why get my payment would do this. Cynthia Maguire

    Reply
    • This could be due a system issue or that your payment got moved into a later batch (currently IRS is paying 3rd batch). Just monitor daily. I have also seen people get their checks even if GMP status was old, so would not be shocked if you got your check before GMP was updated.

      Reply
  3. I am on social security a retired non filer and received the first and second stimulus by direct deposit. I have not received the third stimulus for $1400.00 even though I do qualify. When I use the get my payment the status is, NOT AVAILABLE, We don’t have enough information yet ( we’re working on this), or you’re not eligible for a payment. I tried to check online and all I can find is a date for direct deposit for Social Security will be announced soon, and that has been since 3/12/21 and it is now 3/23/21 and get my payment info is the same even though deposits were made on 3/19/21 to be distributed on 3/24/21. It is very confusing as to whether I will even be receiving a deposit at all.

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  4. I left a bad relationship last January with 3 kids and had to start over. I have not received not one stimulus for myself or my children because my ex gets them, this is not fair!!!!

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    • I am an 81 year old American citizen living in the Philippines with my wife a Filipino. We have a ten year old son who has his U.S. citizenship and he receives monthly benefits from my Social Security. I had his payments made payable to his mother in case I died. Since she is not a U. S. citizen she cannot receive the stimulus cheks as we know of no way to apply.

      What can I do in order to apply for our son’s three checks? Please help.

      Reply
      • Under the new act, Your wife should be eligible for third stimulus. But we don’t know yet whether she still able to do that after you supposedly passed away.

        “Under the CARES Act, if you had a Social Security number but your spouse is a nonresident alien, and you filed taxes jointly, you weren’t eligible to receive a first stimulus payment. If filing jointly, both spouses must have had valid Social Security numbers to get a payment, unless one of them is a member of the US Armed Forces during the tax year. However, if you file your 2020 taxes separately from your spouse, you may be eligible to get a payment on your 2020 return.

        But this rule changed under the bill governing the third check: Families with mixed status, or those whose members have different citizenship and immigration classifications, are eligible for a third stimulus check, though to qualify, one member needs to have a Social Security number.”

        Reply
  5. Please HELP! Im in PENNSYLVANIA and was approved for PUA back in AUGUST 2020 but my last day of work was in MARCH so I submitted a Backdate Request through the PUA portal and was sent a message to make sure my documents are submitted for when the government makes another move. Anyone know what this is about?

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  6. This helpful but still waiting on income taxes from last year and now my stimulus funds and also PUA benefits. I as well as others are truly at their last I do not have ANYTHING I have been dealt a bad hand in thisCOVID-19 and this PANDEMIC waiting and waiting but when you get someone they ruled and have a clue or at least they act like that. What about those working from home with claimants information they can reap damage on our identity I don’t think no thought this out at all. Please help 2 months behind in rent, utilities behind no wifi for my kids online learning. Why are we paying for something we had nothing to do with. Internet should be free we at home just stuck with teachers calling and me not responding they didin’t set me up to get a response from me.

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  7. This will definitely be helpful thanks President Biden, because I’m on SSDI and haven’t filed taxes for over two years…

    Reply

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