Automatic coronavirus economic relief payments should begin during the week of April 13 to taxpayers with direct deposit information on file with the IRS, the tax agency said in an April 10 statement.
Alternatively, taxpayers who aren’t required to file annual returns can now use an IRS.gov web portal to submit basic personal and financial information necessary to receive coronavirus economic impact statements.
“The ‘Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here’ web portal is a tool for Americans who aren’t required to file tax returns to make sure they receive their payment as quickly and safely as possible,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement April 10. The web portal was designed by the IRS with the assistance of the Free File Alliance.
Enrolled agent Phyllis Jo Kubey said in an email to Tax Notes that she welcomed the new IRS tool as a way to “less wear and tear on the [tax] agency,” but worried about its security potential to fall prey to scams.
“How will the identity of the portal user be verified, so that identity thieves don’t get the payments?” Kubey asked. “How can we protect vulnerable individuals from scammers spoofing the legitimate portal? I imagine we’ll learn more soon.”
Taxpayers accessing the new tool will be able to enter their full names and Social Security numbers and those of their spouses and dependents, their mailing address, and their bank account type, routing, and account numbers, Treasury said.
The IRS said it will launch a separate “Get My Payment” app later in April. That will allow taxpayers who filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return without their direct deposit information to update that information with the IRS and get their payment quicker electronically than by a paper check through the mail.
Social Security recipients who didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 don’t need to take any action, Treasury said. Payments will be made the same way they receive Social Security income.
While Treasury is set to begin sending payments out, some payments could take up to five months to receive, the administration has warned.
The IRS is exploring ways to make the payments automatically to veterans receiving disability payments or families getting survivor benefits, as well as for Supplemental Security Income recipients. People in those groups can either use the web portal or wait while the IRS continues to review automatic payment options.