Haven't filed since 2018, Must i file taxes this year?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
January 3, 2021
31 replies
83 views

I last filed in 2018 via Turbo Tax, since then I've been battling health issues and haven't worked.

Most everyone i know with Bank of America has gotten the 2nd stimulus except us, but this is probably a moot point now anyways.. (of course there's also being patient, but pretty sure I shouldn't expect a check automatically now anyways) Here's why...

So i did not file in 2019 as I did not make money, they must have used my 2018 taxes for 1st stimulus payment-the last year i filed taxes.

I DID receive first Economic impact payment via direct deposit.

But I did NOT use the non filer tool that was due in Nov. ( i didn't realize i needed to)

I do not have income to report, so i wasn't going to file this year.

My goal is to get stimulus as soon as possible, but...

Two different news sources report differing opinions on the 2018 tax issue.:

One States that in order receive 2nd stimulus check automatically, IRS will still look at 2018 taxes if you didn't necessarily file for 2019.
While another source states that you specifically must have filed for 2019 year to get the 2nd stimulus payment automatically.

To get my stimulus must i now file this year because now IRS is using only 2019 taxes for Stimulus instead of last year when they were able to use my 2018 taxes?

Which is accurate?

Does anyone know if IRS is auto depositing for people who only filed in 2018? And that did not use non filer tool?

Below are my examples of conflicting rules

Best answer by NCperson

Great points.

I Have no taxable income for 2019 or 2020.we also had another child in 2020.

Yes good point, why file for 2019?

But rules I read said 2nd stimulus is based fully on 2019 taxes (and this is the point where my brain confuses myself because I don't know if this (2019 taxes) means filing 2019 for 2018,or in 2020 for 2019. Im guessing the latter..

@Renquist188 - well that is where it gets complicated.... the payments were really an 'advance against 2020 taxes'. So what the IRS did was make an estimate of what you were due based on the filing and income rules. for the 1st stimulus, they used either 2018 or 2019 tax return, whatever was available. For the 2nd payment they only used 2019. But what is really occurring is they are calculating what you are due based on your 2020 numbers on your 2020 tax return and then subtracting what you already received, and it can't go below zero, the rest is a refund to you.

Think about the family that had a baby in 2020 - like you did! - there would have been nothing in 2018 or 2019 on their tax returns. But even a child born this past Wednesday (Dec 31) gets their parents a tax credit of $500 and $600 on their 2020 tax return- because everything is really based on the 2020 numbers!!!

or the person that had BIG income in 2018 and 2019, but was unemployed in 2020. They may not have received any stimulus for the 1st two payments because of their income was too high. But since everything is really based on 2020, they would be able to collect the stimulus on this year's tax return as their income is now low and everything is really based on 2020.

does that help?

taxlady28

Level 10

If you do not get the stimulus check automatically and do not need to file for 2019 or 2020, then you can do a non-filer's return. I do believe that you will get it automatically.

If you don't see it by January 15, the file a non-filer's return.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-tool-to-help-non-filers-get-economic-impact-payments