Martin Cantu, EA - Tax Consultant - Tax Relief Services Blog

The IRS recently announced two tools to assist you in easing delivery of your COVID Relief Check. Click on this IRS link  for the information. It provides two sections - one for non-filers and one for those who did file in 2018 or 2019 but did not provide direct deposit information. Currently the portal allowing you to input your direct deposit information is not active. The website indicates that it will be available mid month, which in the coming week. I suggest that you monitor this website daily. Your #COVIDReliefcheck will get to you easier than waiting for it in the mail. The website will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number. You can obtain both numbers from the bottom of a check, or off of your bank's website. Keep the information handy before you logon, as the site is likely to have a lot of traffic.

President Trump signed the massive coronavirus relief bill last week. Money will be distributed to the public by the IRS. So will the IRS offset what I owe against the check? What about my spouse? Here are some specific takeaways that you need to know now, and take appropriate action: 1. The government is using the IRS to distribute the checks only. They will not offset any IRS debts against the checks as this is not an IRS matter. The government is just using their infrastructure. 2. However, the only exception to this rule is child support obligations. If you owe back child support, it will come out of the check. This is the only exception at this time. 3. The only way the IRS will know about you is if you have filed a return in 2018 or for 2019. If you have not filed for 2018, and have not filed 2019, you will not receive a check.  In order to receive a check you must file a return for either of those years.  We love working with taxpayers who are delinquent filers. T