Stimulus Check for "Your Spouse as a dependent"

[Kams1]

Thanks for the message! 

I've been having a difficult time getting through to speak to someone at the IRS who can access my account. I get placed on hold only to get disconnected when someone starts to connect. :(

[aquinley0001]

You can still at least receive it when you file you’re 2020 taxes in a few months.  

[klauguste]

That's what they are telling us, but for some reason I do not believe them ... I feel like both the IRS and TurboTax are going to come up with some conflicting, obscure reason why our payments could not be processed --- something we should or should not have done that disqualifies us from getting our check.  If that's the case, then why not just give it to us now? Why do we have to wait?

[Critter-3]

@klauguste 

Such a doubting Thomas ... look at line 30 of the 2020 1040 form ...  https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2020/08/20/irs-releases-draft-form-1040-heres-whats-ne...

[klauguste]

From the author of the article you referenced

A cautionary note: This is a draft return, and not yet the real thing. That means, reminds the IRS, "Do not file draft forms and do not rely on draft forms, instructions, and publications for filing." The IRS cautions that "unexpected issues occasionally arise, or legislation is passed" which means that this form could look a lot different in the final version that it does now. Things could change - and if we've learned anything from 2020, it's that they probably will.

[Critter-3]

Then read the IRS instructions for line 30 ... starting on page 56   https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i1040gi--dft.pdf

[aquinley0001]

I don’t see how it could be an issue, unless we use TT to file in 2021 and the glitch pops up again.   But I’ll de damned if I use TT! 

The stimulus check isn’t a 2019 thing, it’s a 2020 thing—more specifically, it’s a 2020 tax-year thing to be claimed in 2021.  The reality being it’s technically an advanced payment for a fully-refundable tax credit, for 2020 tax returns, which are filed in 2021.  Because of this, people who did not receive the advance payment can still claim it as it is legally written—as a credit for 2020 taxes.  Because it was an advanced payment, before 2020 could be filed, all they could do was guesstimate eligibility (for 2020 returns) based on recent prior years’ (2018/2019) returns.  Now, if any of us end up owing a couple thousands of dollars on our 2020 returns, those among us might be out of luck.  But otherwise most of us should be ok.   The legal IRS standing for the stimulus (a 2020 tax-year credit) hasn’t even come to be yet.  

I stopped sweating it once I realized how long an (unlikely-to-be-successful) amended return would take to process, if successful, and for a check to be issued.  It’s normally about 16 weeks to process an amended return. That’s prior to Covid delays. I’m just waiting until 2020.  Much less stressed after researching it and deciding to let it be.  But forget TT...they lost my business for life.  And I bet there are people who didn’t get their check who will still use them for 2020 returns and get screwed again.  

[Kams1]

It's great that the tax credit was provided and that it was provided as an advance during such a difficult time to many individuals. Since it was based on 2018 and 2019 for most people, especially those who filed a return for 2018 and 2019, then it could make a difference for some people who didn't get it as expected to have to wait until 2021 to file 2020 taxes. That could be another 5 months for some who, for various reasons, don't file until the last possible day.

One thing, some people lost jobs and/or were hospitalized or had family members hospitalized and needed it as it was intended, this year. It could also mean less money to wait and file in 2021 because some people who were effected had children and also didn't get the payment for them because of this TurboTax/IRS glitch, and if the child or children are 17 by the end of 2020, then that's $500 per child less money that would otherwise been received without the glitch. Some people do not receive a refund and have to pay in taxes which may exceed this credit and, while having to pay less is good, there's still no check coming in to help if that was needed. 

It might not be a big deal for some people to have to wait and claim it as a credit in 2021 for 2020 taxes. But, for some it could have been a huge help instead of a huge stressor being told they would get a little help that has not come and may be less than what would have been received.

[daystar35]

Well it appears a recovery credit can be made when filing 2020 taxes.   Of course it's in draft form but

seems light is at end of the tunnel.    Thanks for pointing this out .  

[Emdwhitmore]

Am I overthinking this or.......  if we are denied eligibility now, we will be denied it again when we file for the credit.....  right? It's not an "I didn't get my check" thing, it's an "I have been DENIED ELIGIBILITY" thing. 

Intuit's office of the president told me yesterday that the IRS has told them that all people impacted by this have been found and paid. This may explain why some have gotten it without even doing anything. But not ALL PEOPLE have been paid because not all of us have been deemed eligible. If I'm denied eligibility now based on one box that doesn't even matter according to the posted IRS eligibility guidelines, then I won't be eligible to claim it as a credit.  ???????

And good for everyone who has the luxury of just waiting til next year...  

[Critter-3]

Don't know who you talked to but that is a bunch of crap ... however if you did not get the ADVANCE of the credit in 2020 then you can apply for it on the 2020 return when you file next year if you are eligible to do so.  The IRS has line 30 on the form 1040 and a worksheet for this already in place.   In the TT program it will ask if you got it and how much ... that is all you will need to do for the program to do the calculations.   See pages 56-57 ... https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-dft/i1040gi--dft.pdf

[Emdwhitmore]

That's my question.. "if you are eligible to do so".  They have denied me eligibility for the advance because of that one box. So if I'm not eligible for the advance, I'm not eligible to claim it later.....  right?

[klauguste]

I COMPLETELY agree with you. The way I understand it, the IRS is basing their decision on who is eligible based on that box being checked or not. 

I don't think you're overthinking it --- 

[Emdwhitmore]

I just got off the phone with the IRS and, after a buttload of "research", the agent said a memo was issued to all IRS agents saying that if anyone calls to report a TurboTax box glitch, the agents are to note the account, and the account would be "marked" for manual EIP processing. She said there is a dedicated team working on the TurboTax error because "A LOT of people" have been affected. This manual reprocessing work was scheduled to be completed 10/29/2020 - which is in harmony with what the president's office at Intuit said: "All affected have been located and paid." The rep I spoke with said it is, though, "ongoing" but she couldn't tell me why she can say that. (Seriously, how does she know this is still going on?)   At first, she read the guidelines stating that the dependent box mattered on a Married Filing SEPERATE form. I read the requirements listed on the website and insisted the dependent box (wrongly checked by TT software) does not matter and should not have a bearing on my eligibility. She did enough research to agree with me and continue looking into it, confirming my account was marked.

Nothing concrete was accomplished but the info helps with the fight.

If you have yet to call the IRS, search "how to reach IRS person", you'll get a blog written by a CPA who gives instructions about getting to the right area.   Don't let them transfer you to the EIP line or anyone else. They can do this! Tell them it's the TurboTax glitch, get your account "marked".  I asked for contact info for the dedicated team or ANYONE who is working on this, and she said they don't have phones. 

Email Andrea at the Intuit president's office and tell her it hasn't been resolved for you! Ask for an IRS contact for someone who is working on this. If they are "working closely" with the IRS, THEY HAVE A CONTACT. I just emailed her again, asking for this. I'll keep pressing it. 

Call the IRS - get your account marked. Email Andrea! Hold them accountable! Please. 

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[daystar35]

I went into the IRS form that is in draft form right now and followed it thru , then posts to 1040 line 30. It just asks “ are you entitled to it” . So it seems like it will facilitate getting the refundable credit when you file your taxes.