Rights & Re-Enfranchisement

How to Get Stimulus Payments if You Don't Normally File a Tax Return

By Melisha Daniels  -  March 11, 2021
 

Congress, the U.S. Senate and Joseph "Robin Hood" Biden Jr., America's 46th President have finally signed off on the latest economic relief package. As early as this weekend, Americans will begin to receive much needed and eagerly anticipated stimulus funds.

According to the American Rescue Plan, the most recent stimulus package, approved on March 11, 2021 individuals will receive up to $1400 per adult and $1400 per dependent subject to income eligibility requirements. People who have already filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020 and selected the option to receive refunds by direct deposit will be the first to receive their money.

This pandemic has been rough to say the least. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted lives, leaving many of us unemployed with little or no income to report on a tax return.

To date 3 stimulus payments have been issued totaling $3200 due to eligible Americans. Because many would be recipients missed the first 2 cutoff dates to report income and become eligible for the stimulus, the IRS has provided a way to claim all 3 payments through the "Refund Recovery Rebate" on the 2020 Tax Form 1040.

How to Claim Refund Recovery Rebate

People who have no source of income, no children or are incarcerated may be eligible to receive all 3 stimulus payments.

At this point, the quickest and most sure way to get the Stimulus payments are to file electronically. The IRS has mentioned on their website that processing paper forms is currently held up about 2 to 4 months. On the other hand, refunds from electronically filed tax returns will be sent to you in as little as 2 to 4 weeks, depending on if you have direct deposit or a paper check.

Another barrier that presents itself is some of the free electronic filing tools will not allow you to use "0" in the Wage & Income section. To get us over the hump, JustasIam.Careers has created step by step instructions on how to Claim the Refund Recovery Rebate.

File a 2020 Tax Return Electronically
  • Step 1 - Go to the IRS Free File tool located at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/or FreeFileUSA.com. (Both Sites Offer Free Federal Filing)
  • Step 2 - Under Wages & Income put the amount $1.00.
  • Step 3 - Answer the questions regarding stimulus payments and amounts received
  • Step 4 - Input Direct Deposit Information
  • Step 5 - Submit Return

If for some reason you are not able to submit the return electronically, you will need to use the 2020 IRS 1040 paper form and use the instructions to determine the amount of Refund Recovery Rebate due to you. As mentioned, tax refunds claimed on paper forms are taking anywhere from 2 to 4 months to process. Below are instructions on how to claim the Refund Recovery Rebate by filing a paper tax return:

File a Paper 2020 Tax Return by Mail
  • Step 1 - Access - 2020 IRS Form 1040 at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf.
  • Step 2 - Put the Amount of "0.00" on Line 1 and Line 15.
  • Step 3 - Put the Amount of Stimulus Payments You have Not Received on Line 30.
  • Sign and Send Return


This article is for informational purposes only and does not contain, suggest or provide tax advice. To find more information about how to claim your stimulus payments if you don't normally file a tax return visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/recovery-rebate-credit.