Stimulus check: My payment amount is wrong, what should I do?
Some payments have been too high, others too low and some recipients have complained that they have not received the $500 allowance for each eligible child.
Most tax-paying Americans have now received their stimulus checks but some have complained that the amount is wrong – either too high or too low. Another particularly common complaint is that no Plus Payment has been received for eligible, dependent children, from parents who have found out that their own checks seem to be 500 dollars short.
If you discover that your stimulus payment was too high – or higher than you expected, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not expect you to return the sum which has been overpaid. But if the amount you received was much less than you had anticipated, there is not much you can do about it. If a mistake has been made with your application, you may have to wait until next year to get it resolved.
If you think your stimulus check payment is wrong and is too low, you will have to wait until next year’s tax season – 1 January-15 April 2021 to put forward your claim when you file your tax return for 2020. Then wait to see if you will be reimbursed.
Calculate how much you will receive in your Economic Impact Payment here:
The IRS explains what individuals who have queries about the amount they have received need to do next:
“If you did not receive the full amount to which you believe you are entitled, you will be able to claim the additional amount when you file your 2020 tax return. This is particularly important for individuals who may be entitled to the additional $500 per qualifying child dependent payments. For VA and SSI recipients who don’t have a filing requirement and have a child, they need to use the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov by May 5 in order to have the $500 added automatically to their $1,200 Economic Impact payment”.
See also:
Plans for second round of US stimulus checks
Stimulus checks: when is the May deadline and who does it affect?
There is a Customer Service hotline in place at the IRS (Tel: 800-829-1040) but calls regarding stimulus check problems or complaints will not be accepted by phone as the Taxpayers Assistence Centers (TCAs) are currently closed. Queries can be made through the IRS2GO Mobile app or in writing to your local IRS office.