July 21, 2021
Candace J. Dixon
The Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service announced the disbursement of over 2.2 million additional Economic Impact Payments under the American Rescue Plan. This covers the most recent six weeks, bringing the total disbursed so far to over 171 million payments totaling more than $400 billion since the payments began March 12.
Here is more information on the last six weeks of payments, which include those with official payment dates through July 21:
In total, this includes about 2.2 million payments with a value of more than $4 billion.
1.3 million payments with a value of $2.6 billion went to eligible individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have information to issue an Economic Impact Payment but who recently filed a tax return.
This also includes additional ongoing supplemental payments for people who earlier this year received payments based on their 2019 tax returns but are eligible for a new or larger payment based on their recently processed 2020 tax returns. In the last six weeks, there were more than 900,000 of these "plus-up" payments, with a value of more than $1.6 billion. In all, the IRS has made more than 9 million of these supplemental payments this year worth approximately $18.5 billion.
Economic Impact Payments will continue to be disbursed on a weekly basis to individuals for whom the IRS did not previously have information but who recently filed a tax return, as well as to people who qualify for "plus-up" payments.
Reminder for Those Who Don't Normally File Tax Returns
Although payments are automatic for most people, people who don't normally file a tax return and haven't received Economic Impact Payments should file a 2020 tax return to get all the benefits they're entitled to, such as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Filing a 2020 tax return will also assist the IRS in determining eligibility for monthly advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which began earlier this month.
People who receive federal benefits may need to file a 2020 tax return as soon as possible even if they don't usually file one to give the IRS information needed to send payments for a qualifying dependent to be considered for an additional payment for their qualifying dependents.
Other people who don't normally have an obligation to file a tax return may qualify for Economic Impact Payments, including those experiencing homelessness, the rural poor, and other historically under-served groups. People who didn't get a first or second round Economic Impact Payment, or who got less than the full amounts, may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but they need to file a 2020 tax return. See this page on the IRS website: Claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit if you aren't required to file a tax return.
There is a Non-Filer tool on the IRS website that lets who weren’t required to file a tax return for 2020 register for advance Child Tax Credit payments and the third Economic Impact Payment and claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a simplified tax return. Free tax return preparation is available for those who qualify.
The income levels in this third round of Economic Impact Payments has changed, so some people won't be eligible for the third payment even if they received a first or second Economic Impact Payment or claimed a 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. Payments begin to be reduced for individuals making $75,000 or above in Adjusted Gross Income ($150,000 for married filing jointly), and payments end at $80,000 for individuals ($160,000 for married filing jointly); people with Adjusted Gross Incomes above these levels are ineligible for a payment.
You can check the status of these payments using the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website.
Additional Resources: