IRS Communications

Many people who don't normally file a tax return and don't receive federal benefits may qualify for stimulus payments but may not realize it. This includes those without a permanent address, income, a job or a bank account.  

Individuals may be eligible to receive Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as stimulus payments, but may not realize it. A December 2020 law changed eligibility requirements for EIPs. Now, some people who don’t meet the Social Security Number requirements can get the third EIP for each qualifying dependent if those dependents have SSNs.

Eligibility: Income limits apply, but generally,  people are eligible  for the third EIP if they: 

• are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, 
• are not another taxpayer’s dependent, and 
• have an SSN that is valid for employment (for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit) or a valid SSN (for the third Economic Impact Payment).

Special rules apply to filers who do not have an SSN as long as they have qualifying dependents.  For more information, please view Publication 5519.  

 The third Economic Impact Payment amount is:

• $1,400 for an eligible individual with a valid Social Security number ($2,800 for married couples filing a joint return if both spouses have a valid Social Security number or if one spouse has a valid Social Security number and one spouse was an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the taxable year)
• $1,400 for each qualifying dependent with a valid Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number issued by the IRS

Unlike the first two payments, the third payment is not restricted to children under 17. Eligible individuals will get 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.

For more information on EIP eligibility requirements, visit https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/third-economic-impact-payment.

Eligible people can receive the third Economic Impact Payment by:

• Using IRS Free File to file a Form 1040 for tax year 2020, or
• Using the Non-filer Sign-up tool on IRS.gov, which can help people who don’t normally file a tax return get advance payments of the Child Tax Credit as well as Economic Impact Payments and the Recover Rebate Credit.