Us Tax Return: What’s The Minimum Income To File Taxes
Taxpayers in the United States have until 15 April 2021 to submit their federal income tax return for 2020 – but people whose earnings didn’t reach a certain level do not have to file.
Here’s an overview of how much you need to have earned in 2020 to be required to complete a US tax return this year:
Stimulus Check Irs Phone Number: How To Call About Your Payment
Looking for the stimulus check IRS phone number? Yes, you can call the IRS for help with your third stimulus check payment. A representative might be able to questions that can’t be answered through its website.
The IRS’s dedicated stimulus check website is a good resource if you’re wondering where your stimulus check is, if you’re eligible or how much you should get. But if your question is more specific, or you have trouble navigating the available online tools, there’s a phone number you can call for help.
- Stimulus check notifications let you know when your payment arrives
- Use this third stimulus check calculator to find out how much you’ll get
- Plus:
The IRS hotline isn’t equipped to handle an exorbitant amount of inquires. Rather, people are encouraged to seek answers using the economic impact payment Information Center.
The IRS has an app for tracking the status of your stimulus check called Get My Payment. When you enter a bit of personal information, you can find out whether the government has sent your check. If it has, consider using the USPS Informed Delivery tool to receive notifications about where your payment is in transit.
For other logistical questions, the IRS’s hotline is at your disposal. Keep in mind that an automated recording will attempt to help you before you’re connected with an actual representative, so have your questions and basic personal information ready.
Are Adult Dependents Getting Third Stimulus Checks
The new stimulus plan expands eligibility to adult dependents, including college students, elderly relatives and disabled adults.
The text of the plan redefines the term dependent according to section 152 of the tax code, which includes both qualifying children and adults: Section 152 provides that the term dependent means a qualifying child ) or a qualifying relative ).
While the plan pays out $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, families should keep in mind that the targeted lower income ranges exclude them if they earn over $160,000.
For reference, the second stimulus checks provided additional $600 payments for qualifying dependents under the age of 17. So a couple filing jointly with three eligible children could get a maximum second payment of $3,000 .
Under the first and second rounds of stimulus checks, children and adult dependents over the age limit could not get an additional payment, and they did not qualify for a stimulus check of their own either.
With the new stimulus plan, however, both joint filers and heads of household get an additional $1,400 payment for each dependent, regardless of age. The table below breaks down the third stimulus checks for heads of household with one dependent:
Stimulus Checks for Heads of Household & 1 Dependent |
AGI |
$120,000 and up | $0 |
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Whats The Maximum Amount You Can Receive
Individuals will receive up to $1,400, while married couples who file jointly will get up to $2,800. Additionally, dependents will receive as much as $1,400.
Unlike the first two payments, families will get the stimulus checks for all dependents claimed on their tax returns. That includes adult dependents, such as college students and older relatives. Previously, only children under the age of 17 qualified.
However, if youre in debt, you might not see some or even all of that money. Thats because debt collectors can garnish funds from the stimulus checks, something consumers were previously protected against.
How Eligibility Is Determined

Most people, including those who received the first two rounds of stimulus checks, likely wont need to take further action to get this latest economic impact payment, as eligibility is determined based on information already available to the IRS.
The third round of payments will be issued to eligible people who:
- Filed a 2020 tax return
- Filed a 2019 tax return
- Didnt file a tax return for either of those years but registered for the first stimulus check using the special non-filers portal last year
- Are, as of Dec. 31, 2020, recipients of federal benefits who dont usually file a tax return. This group includes people who received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, Supplemental Security Income or veteran benefits in 2020.
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Ossoff Discusses The Stimlus Bill
Georgia’s Democratic senator Jon Ossoff has spoken about the importance of the $1.9trn American Rescue Plan, saying the stimulus package is aimed at “investing in economic recovery by getting cash to working class and middle class people where it does the most good.”
Ossoff was one of two Democratic candidates to win the Georgia Senate election runoff in January, which gave the party the majority it needed in the Upper House to get the American Rescue Plan passed as quickly as possible.
See his full comments in the video below…
Economic Impact Payments Eligibility
If you have not received your third stimulus check and are eligible, you can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2021 tax return. Check out the third stimulus payment eligibility below.
Generally, someone is eligible for the full amount of the third Economic Impact Payment if they:
- are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien , and
- are not a dependent of another taxpayer, and
- their adjusted gross income is not more than:
- $150,000 if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower
- $112,500 if filing as head of household or
- $75,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing status
Payments will be phased out or reduced above those AGI amounts. This means people will not receive a payment if their AGI is at least:
- $160,000 if married and filing a joint return or if filing as a qualifying widow or widower
- $120,000 if filing as head of household
- $80,000 for eligible individuals using any other filing status
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Can Homeless People Get A Stimulus Check
Yes, they can get a stimulus payment. The only way to get a payment is to file a tax return with the IRS. You can do this for free. If you dont have a fixed address and you dont have a bank account, check with a local community or religious organization or with a homeless shelter to see if you have options for getting your mail from the IRS delivered there.
Keep in mind that it may take some time for the IRS to process your tax return and your stimulus payment.
Stimulus Eip Debit Cards
In addition to checks, you might get an EIP debit card rather than a paper check. If thats the case, you will wait for quite a while. The first EIP debit cards will be sent on March 29. However, same as the other dates mentioned, you might wait for longer than that. So its wise to check the status of your third Economic Impact Payment regardless of how youre going to receive it.
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Officials Urge People To File Tax Returns Electronically
Officials have urged people to file their tax returns electronically to ease the process, noting they could also qualify for other relief, including child tax credits.
The Biden administration said stimulus payments and other measures will boost economic growth and help Americans hit by the covid-19 pandemic, which is continuing to claim 1,400 lives in the United States each day.
Nearly 160 million U.S. households will receive some $400 billion in direct payments of $1,400 per person, helping individuals earning up to $75,000 annually and couples up to $150,000.
Those earning more, but less than $80,000 per individual or $160,000 per couple, will receive reduced amounts. Officials said they were coordinating with the Social Security Administration, other government agencies and financial institutions to avoid problems seen during the last round of stimulus payments, when checks went out to thousands of people who were deceased.
“We have a number of controls in place to make sure that we check and look at how those payments are going out,” said one of the officials.
Irs Is Issuing Third Round Of Economic Impact Payments
COVID Tax Tip 2021-35, March 23, 2021
The IRS started issuing the third round of Economic Impact Payments. No action is needed by most taxpayers. The IRS will issue payments automatically by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card.
Many people will receive the third payment the same way they received the first and second Economic Impact Payments. Because these payments are automatic for most eligible people, there’s no need to contact financial institutions or the IRS. People can check the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov for status of their third stimulus payment.
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Questions And Answers About The Third Economic Impact Payment Topic A: General Information
What do I need to do to get my third payment?
If you filed your 2020 tax return, no further action is needed. If you do not have a filing requirement for 2020 and you filed a 2019 tax return, or successfully used the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov last year or are a federal benefit recipient and do not have a spouse or qualifying dependents that are new in 2020, you do not need to take any action. All others should file a 2020 tax return.
When you file your 2020 tax return, you may also be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for your spouse and any qualifying children under age 17 at the end of 2020. See the special section on IRS.gov: Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you arent required to file a tax return.
If you dont normally file a tax return and you need to file a federal tax return for 2020, anyone with no income or income of $72,000 or less can file their Federal tax return electronically for free through the IRS Free File Program.
Will I receive a letter or notice from the IRS about the third Economic Impact Payment?
Yes, the IRS is mailing Notice 1444-C, Your third Economic Impact Payment, to people who received a third Economic Impact Payment at the address we have on file for you.
Please keep any IRS notices/letters you receive related to the third round of Economic Impact Payments with your tax records. You may need to refer to it when you file your 2021 tax return in 2022.
Will the third Economic Impact Payment affect benefits I receive?
Third Stimulus Check Calculator

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11. Provisions in the bill authorize another round of $1,400 stimulus checks for each eligible person , plus an additional $1,400 for each dependent. However, as with the first- and second-round payments, the third-round stimulus checks are reduced or eliminated for people with an income above a certain amount.
To see how large your payment should be, answer the three questions in the calculator below and we’ll give you a customized estimate of your third stimulus check amount.
- Single
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Third Payments Differed From Previous Economic Impact Payments
The third payments differed from the earlier payments in several respects:
- Income phaseout amounts changed. Payments were reduced for individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $75,000 . The reduced payments end at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married filing jointly. People above these levels did not receive any payment.
- Payment amounts are different. Most families received $1,400 per person, including all dependents claimed on their tax return. Typically, this means a single person with no dependents received $1,400, while married filers with two dependents received $5,600.
- Qualifying dependents expanded. Unlike the first two payments, the third payment was not restricted to children under 17. Eligible individuals received a payment based on all of their qualifying dependents claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents and grandparents.
If You Still Havent Received Your $1400 Stimulus Check You Can Find Out Why It Might Have Been Delayed What To Do If It Is And When To Expect It With The Irs App
According to government data, an estimated 160 million US households will receive economic aid around $400 billion has been set aside for direct payments of $1,400 to individuals earning up to $75,000 per annum and married couples with joint incomes of up to $150,000. Those who earn over that amount, but less than $80,000 per individual or $160,000 per couple, will receive reduced amounts.
This time, adult dependents over the age of 17, college students and disabled people will be eligible for a stimulus payment which can be claimed by a family member. Individuals or at least one member of the household, for those filing jointly, must have a valid Social Security number . Apart from US citizens, also entitled to payments are non-US citizens who are in possession of a SSN who live and work in the US. US citizens who live abroad and residents of any US territories will also be eligible to receive an impact payment. This third stimulus payment will be determined on income earned during 2019 or 2020 – providing a tax return for last year has been filed. Qualifying dependents need to be claimed during that tax year.
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How To Check The Status Of My Stimulus Payment
President Biden Signed The American Rescue Plan Into Law On Thursday, March 11th. Checks Could Start Being Sent This Coming Weekend. The First Group Of Checks Will Be Issued To Those That Have Their Bank Information Registered With The IRS.
The Internal Revenue Service Will Allow Qualified Americans To Check The Status Of Their Third Economic Impact Payment . The One-Time Payment Of $1400 For Individuals, And $2800 For Couples. The Income Threshold Is $180,00 For Married Couples And $80,000 For Individual Filers. There Is Also A Child Tax Credit Of Up To$3,600 per child.
Is Any Action Needed By Social Security Beneficiaries Railroad Retirees And Those Receiving Veterans’ Benefits Who Are Not Typically Required To File A Tax Return
Most Social Security retirement and disability beneficiaries, railroad retirees and those received veterans’ benefits in 2020 should not need to take any action to receive a payment. As with the first two stimulus payments, the IRS is to send out the new payments the same way benefits are normally paid. The IRS is working directly with other federal agencies to obtain updated 2021 information for recipients.
Some people who will receive an automatic third payment based on their federal benefits information may need to file a 2020 tax return even if they don’t usually file. If your third payment does not include a payment for your qualified dependent who did not receive a third payment, you must file a 2020 tax return to be considered for an additional third payment even if you don’t normally file.
If you’re eligible and didn’t get a first or second Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, you may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit but you’ll need to file a 2020 tax return. See the special section on IRS.gov: Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren’t required to file a tax return.
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The Irs Has An Online Tool That Lets You Track The Status Of Your Third Stimulus Check
The IRS has already delivered over 100 million third stimulus checks. But if you’re still asking yourself “where’s my stimulus check,” the IRS has an online portal that lets you track your payment. It’s called the “Get My Payment” tool, and it’s an updated version of the popular tool Americans used to track the status of their first- and second-round stimulus checks.
Note that you can’t check the status of your first- or second-round stimulus payments with the updated tool. To find the amounts of these payments, create an online IRS account or refer to IRS Notices 1444 and 1444-B, which the IRS mailed after first- and second-round stimulus checks were issued. If you didn’t get an earlier payment, or your received less than the full amount, you might be able to get what you’re owed by claiming the Recovery Rebate credit on your 2020 tax return. Third-round stimulus payments aren’t used to calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate credit, but they will be used to figure the credit amount on your 2021 tax return.
The updated “Get My Payment” tool more-or-less works the same way as the portal used for first- and second-round stimulus checks. But here’s a refresher course on what the tool does, what information you need to provide, and what information the tool gives you. Check it out now so you know what to expect before entering the portal on the IRS’s website.