Green card but no social number, how to get stimulus check?

[mafahiim]

My parents-in-law both have a green card (legal US permanent residents) since the beginning of 2020. One of them has a social security number and the other didn't have it issued. The SS office is close due to COVID and currently unable to get her SS number. Their income is lower than the required threshold to file taxes, but they would file anyway if they can get the stimulus checks. Questions:

1- Is she allowed to file for ITIN in this case?

2- Will they be able to get either stimulus check #1 or #2 using ITIN, given that the other spouse has a SS number? Or at least the spouse with SS number, can he get his own stimulus check(s)?

3- If they can't get the stimulus unless they have both SS numbers, how can they extend the filing due date beyond April 15 till perhaps the SS office is reopen?

4- Is there a place in TurboTax where one can tell that this number is not an SS number, rather it is an ITIN, so that the stimulus checks get decided and calculated correctly (if eligible for say the second only)?

I appreciate any response. Thank you.

[AkinaLO]

No. the taxpayer needs to have a Social Security number to qualify. In general, taxpayers without an eligible Social Security number are not eligible for the payment. However, this law allows for married taxpayers filing jointly where one spouse has a Social Security number and one spouse does not, to be eligible for a payment of $600, in addition to $600 per child with a Social Security number.

[mafahiim]

Thank you. But how to tel TT that one spouse has ITIN while the other has SS so it calculates the correct amount ($600)?

[JamesG1]

TurboTax will compare your one or two stimulus payment amounts to the computation within TurboTax.  The computation within TurboTax is based upon the information that you have entered into the tax software.  If you are due an additional amount, it will be issued as a Rebate Recovery Credit (RRC) on line 30 of the 2020 1040 tax return.

In TurboTax Online, you are prompted to input stimulus check 1 and stimulus check 2 information under Review down the left hand side of the screen.

You can also access your stimulus check choices by following these steps: 

• Down the left side of the screen, click on Federal.
• Across the top of the screen, click on Other Tax Situations.
• At the screen Let’s keep going to wrap up.  Click on Let’s keep going.
• At the screen Let’s make sure you got the right stimulus amount, click Continue.
• At the screen Did you get a stimulus payment? you can update your stimulus check entries.

See also this TurboTax Help.

[mafahiim]

I know all of that. TurboTax is not asking me if the SSN number I have entered is an ITIN or a true SSN, thus, the ITIN holder person would be eligible (according to TT), despite being ineligible according to the law!!