IDAHO — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reporting that some COVID-19stimulus payments were deposited into taxpayers' bank accounts over the Easter weekend.
The IRS will send $1,200 payments to individuals whose adjusted gross income is below $75,000. Married couples who file jointly and earn under $150,000 will receive $2,400. The government will also pay $500 per qualifying child.
For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds, according to the IRS.
Haven't gotten yours yet?
"The IRS started sending those checks out via the direct deposit on April 9," said Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson in an interview with Idaho News 6. He added that most people who have given the federal government their direct deposit information will receive their stimulus checks by April 14.
Paper checks will take longer, according to the IRS.
"They will begin issuing paper checks on April 24, starting with taxpayers in the lowest adjusted income," added Simpson.
Launching this by this Friday, according to Simpson, the IRS will soon have an online service to help Americans track the status of their payment.
The new IRS online service will allow people to determine if they are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment, and if so, how much. It also features a “Get My Payment” tool to track the status of your payment, and to set up direct deposit if necessary.
“Taxpayers who have not provided the IRS with their direct debit to do so online -- this will allow people to get their checks faster," said Simpson
Q: Who is eligible for the Economic Impact Payment?
U.S. citizens or resident aliens who:
- Have a valid Social Security number,
- Could not be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer, and
- Had adjusted gross income under certain limits.
Q: Who will receive the Economic Impact Payment automatically without taking additional steps?
Most eligible U.S. taxpayers will automatically receive their Economic Impact Payments including:
- Individuals who filed a federal income tax for 2018 or 2019
- Individuals who receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits
- Individuals who receive Railroad Retirement benefits
If you receive veterans disability compensation, a pension, or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or your income level does not require you to file a tax return, then you are considered a "non-filer" and need to submit information to the IRS to receive an Economic Impact Payment.
You can provide the necessary information to the IRS easily and quickly for no fee through "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info." The IRS will use this information to determine your eligibility and payment amount and send you an Economic Impact Payment. After providing this information you won’t need to take any additional action.
Q: Who should use "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info" to provide additional information to receive the Economic Impact Payment?
Eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents who:
- Had gross income that did not exceed $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) for 2019
- Were not otherwise required to file a federal income tax return for 2019, and didn't plan to.
Community pulse, so far:
Idaho News 6 Reporter Madeline White reached out to viewers on social media to see who had received their checks as of Monday, and more than 60 said they hadn't, and more than 20 said they had.
Brittany Brock and her family -- residents of Hailey -- were one of those 20.
"We’re very grateful... We’ll be able to keep our place to live, our power on, and [it will] help us get groceries and things that we need," said Brock.
The coffee shop employee says she has been furloughed due to the outbreak, and that her husband is out of work as well.
“Neither one of us working has been a really hard hit, financially," said Brock.
Brock said the check is allowing them to cover basic needs.
“It’s a huge blessing right now," said Brock.
Another Idahoan, Mandy Sheppard, said she got hers Monday morning.
“We are just saving our stimulus money for now — we don’t know how long this is going to last, or if it will affect us in the future. So we’re just putting it away and saving it in case we need it later," said Sheppard.
The payments will also be automatic for people who receive Social Security retirement, Railroad retirement, survivor, or disability benefits.
