Americans continue to wait for Congress to agree on the terms of a second stimulus bill, as Democrats and Republicans are still divided on the size and scope of an aid package. In the meantime, up to 9 million people still haven’t received their first direct payment that was authorized by the CARES Act.
Time is running out to register to get a stimulus check if you don’t file federal income taxes. To remind you to do so by the Oct. 15 deadline, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to mail letters to about 9 million people who may be eligible to get an Economic Impact Payment.
Letters are expected to be mailed starting around Sept. 24. A copy of the letter is available online via the IRS to help recipients distinguish it from a potential fraud.
The CARES Act authorized direct payments of up to $1,200 per adult and up to $500 per qualifying child. Most people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019 received their payments this spring because their payment was based on their most recent tax return.