Stimulus check: how to claim the missing $500 dependent payment
Even though the IRS already sent over 160 million stimulus payments, some people are still missing the extra $500 for their dependents.
Following the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States in mid-March, Congress drafted and approved the CARES Act, which was later signed into law by President Donald Trump to help millions of American’s during the outbreak, as the economy shut down and only essential businesses remained open.
Under the CARES Act, out-of-work Americans who filed tax returns for either 2018 or 2019 would automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples and up to $500 for each qualifying child.
People are missing the extra $500
Even though the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) already sent over 160 million stimulus payments, some people didn’t get the extra $500 for each dependent under the age of 17 that was part of the stimulus check package. Following many complaints, the IRS decided to reopen an online tool to help correct this mistake.
People have until the end of September to use the IRS 'Non Filers Tool’ to fill out and submit the form on their dependents only if they were not included in the first payment they received. After the deadline has passed, the IRS said that payments will be sent in mid-October.
If by any chance people miss the due date, they will have to wait until 2021 to claim the extra $500 per dependent they didn’t receive in the first round of stimulus payments. Also the IRS recommends that people shouldn’t use the tool if they plan on filing a 2019 tax return, as it will slow everything down.