The Internal Revenue Service has issued 2.8 million COVID-19 stimulus payments during the past two weeks, the agency announced Wednesday.
The most recent batch of $1,400 payments brings the total sent to Americans to more than 169 million payments equaling some $395 billion. The payments, intended as an economic boost to Americans hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, were authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law in March.
Over the past two weeks, the IRS sent out more than 1.1 million “plus-up” payments, 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.
Those 1.1 million payments represented more than $2.5 billion. In all, the IRS has made more than 8 million plus-up payments this year, the agency said in a press release.
More than 900,000 payments sent out in the past two weeks went to individuals for whom the IRS previously did not have enough information to issue an Economic Impact Payment. The IRS was able to get the payments to them after they filed their tax returns.
The IRS continues to reach out to people who don’t normally file a tax return and who don’t receive federal benefits but may qualify for a stimulus payment.
They are asking them to file a return in addition to asking agencies that offer aid to make people aware they may be eligible for the money.
The agency on Wednesday underscored the need for returns to be filed saying upcoming payments, such as the Child Tax Credit, depend on the information provided in the returns.
“Although payments are automatic for most people, the IRS continues to urge people who don’t normally file a tax return and haven’t received Economic Impact Payments to file a 2020 tax return to get all the benefits they’re entitled to under the law, including tax credits such as the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit,” the agency said in a press release.
If you did not get a first or second Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount, you may be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. You will need to file a 2020 tax return to get those payments.
Individuals can check the Get My Payment tool on IRS.gov to see the payment status of stimulus payments. Additional information on Economic Impact Payments is available on IRS.gov.