Retirees that Don’t File a Tax Return and Have Dependent Children May Need to Take Action Before Noon April 22

If you receive Social Security Retirement or Railroad Retirement benefits and are not required to file a tax return and have one or more dependents under the age of 17, you need to take action no later than 12 noon EST on Wednesday, April 22 or you will have to wait until 2021 to receive the $500 rebate for the children.

Since you are not required to file a tax return, the IRS is unaware of any dependent children under the age of 17 that you have and because of that you will only receive the $1,200 recovery rebate for yourself unless you quickly take action to inform the IRS of any dependents under age 17. You can do that using the IRS Non-Filer Tool.

However, the IRS will only use information supplied by way of the tool BEFORE 12 NOON EST on WEDNESDAY APRIL 22. 

SSI and VA beneficiaries will have some additional time beyond April 22 to add their children since their $1,200 automatic payments will be made at a later date. SSI recipients will receive their automatic payments in early May, and the VA payment schedule for beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments is still being determined. If you have children and aren’t required to file a tax return, both groups are urged to use the Non-Filer tool as soon as possible.

Once the $1,200 payment has been issued, you will not be eligible to use the Non-Filer tool to add eligible children. Your payment will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with a return filed in 2021 for tax year 2020.

Please call this office if you have questions.