If a person has no income whatsoever, but did not receive any stimulus checks, does one file a tax return in order to tell the IRS that stimulus checks are needed?

[CarolAnn2]

Should she file a return in order to trigger replacement checks? Remember she has no income for 2020. In fact she hasn't filed taxes in 7 years. She has had no income for that period of time.

[xmasbaby0]

No income at all?   How is the person supported?   Does someone else support her and claim her as a dependent?   If she can be claimed as someone else's dependent she is not eligible to receive a stimulus check.

[CarolAnn2]

She has not been claimed on another person's return and she is in her fifties. She has no income. She lives with another person who does not claim her as a dependent.

[CarolAnn2 · Accepted solution]

The person that she lives with is claimed as a parent's dependent due to medical disability issues.

[CarolAnn2]

This woman was recently homeless and was taken in by an old friend who happens to be medically disabled

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

If she cannot be claimed as someone else's dependent then she can file a 2020 tax return to seek the 1st and 2nd EIP payments by using the recovery rebate credit.   She might need to enter $1 of interest as "income" on the return---this is allowed by the IRS so that the return can be filed.

The stimulus check is an advance on a credit you can receive on your 2020 tax return.  If something went wrong or you did not get the stimulus check in 2020, you can get it when you file your 2020 return in early 2021

The Recovery Rebate Credit will be found in the FEDERAL REVIEW section. ( you should see "Let's make sure you got the right stimulus amount”)  If you are eligible it will end up on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040.

Make sure that you enter ALL of the stimulus money received for the 1st and 2nd stimulus for yourself, your spouse and your children.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payment-information-center-topic-j-reconciling-on-your-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

[CarolAnn2]

Thank you! That 1$ interest income suggestion is really what I needed to know. I have tried to free file using several services that would not allow access to the stimulus remedy without a filed return. You are our hero this evening!!!

Thank you!

[xmasbaby0]

Glad to help.   As stated already, the 3rd payment comes later.   If the IRS does not send the 3rd payment this year, then she can seek the 3rd payment as a credit on a 2021 return.

 The IRS is issuing 3rd stimulus checks on its own timetable.

You can use the IRS Get My Payment site to see what is expected for your 3rd stimulus check:

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment-frequently-asked-questions