IRS extends $500 stimulus check for kids deadline - when is the new date and how do you claim it?

The IRS has extended the date by which you can claim your Economic Impact Payment, which provides a $500 stimulus check per child. Anyone who is eligible for those payments but has not yet received theirs has until 21 November 2020 to submit their claim.

After the CARES Bill was signed into law earlier this year the IRS began sending out $1,200 checks for individuals earning less than $100,000 a year, with an additional $500 for any dependents. Those on the IRS’ register should have received theirs automatically but anyone who does not pay tax would not have been included.

But fear not, you now have an extension until 21 November to register yourself with the tax authorities and get your $500 stimulus check.

How to register as a non-filer to get your $500 payments

Americans earning less than $12,000 per year for a single filer or less than $24,400 for a joint filer are not required to pay income tax and so would not usually file a tax return. Those in receipt of Social Security, retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance or survivor benefits are also not required to register with the IRS.

All of these groups would have had to manually register with the IRS before receiving the stimulus checks that they were entitled to. To make the process easier the IRS have created a Non-Filers tool allowing you to enter your payment information online and receive your stimulus check. Claimants will need to provide:

• Full name, current mailing address and an email address

• Date of birth and valid Social Security number

• Bank account number, type and routing number, if you have one

• Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) you received from the IRS earlier this year. If you have lost it you must use the Get an IP PIN tool to retrieve your number

• Driver’s license or state-issued ID, if you have one

• Name, Social Security number or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number and the relationship to you of each child you are claiming the $500 for

Stimulus talks progressing but no new payments before the election

The extension marks the final chance for American’s to get their hands on the stimulus checks included in the CARES Act, but for many the focus has already turned to the next wave of economic support.

Negotiations over the second major coronavirus relief package have been ongoing for months now but despite the HEROES Act passing the House of Representatives in May, nothing has yet been agreed. The Democrat-proposed package would provide for $2.2 trillion of government funding but Republicans in the Senate are unwilling to go above the $500 billion “skinny” bill floated by Mitch McConnell.

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On Monday McConnell had a near hour-long phone call with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as the two look to thrash out a deal before the election on 3 Novemeber. However figures on both sides appear resigned to the fact that there will be no new bill agreed before Election Day with President Donald Trump, who recently said he wanted a package even bigger than the Democrats were offering, admitting that it would not be feasible.

On Tuesday Trump told reporters: “After the election we’ll get the best stimulus package you’ve ever seen.”  With the outcome of the 2020 presidential election unlikely to be a straight-forward one, Americans may not receive another round of Economic Impact Payments for some time.