9 million people did not know they were eligible to receive their first stimulus check. For most people, taxes and the second stimulus check are closely related. The most important factor in setting income limits is the AGI, which determines how much of the total amount you could receive out of the $600 if you’re a single person or $1,200 if you’re a couple.
Many adults, including retirees over 65, received a first stimulus check under the CARES Act and will be eligible for a second stimulus check. For seniors and retirees, factors such as your tax returns, your AGI, your pension, and whether you are on SSDI will affect a second stimulus check payment.
Will I get a second stimulus check if I haven’t filed my taxes?
With the second payment the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will use your 2019 tax return to determine eligibility. Individuals who were not required to file a federal tax return in 2018 or 2019 may still be eligible to receive the first stimulus check issued under the CARES Act. This same group of individuals will again be eligible to receive the second stimulus check.
These are some of the reasons why some people have not been required to file a tax return:
- You are over 24 years old and not claimed as a dependent and your income is less than $1,200.
- You are married and file a joint tax return with income less than $24,400.
- You have no income.
- You receive federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.
During the first stimulus check people who were not required to file taxes needed to provide the IRS with information about their bank account so the agency would know where to receive their payment.
If this was your case and you have not yet received your first stimulus check, the IRS said you will be able to do so when you claim your taxes in 2021.
During November the agency tried to contact more than 9 million Americans who may have been in this category and have not yet requested payment.
If you belong to this group of citizens you can claim your payment on next year’s taxes. Under the new law, people who used the IRS “Nonfiler” website to apply for the first stimulus check will also receive a second payment.