IRS Sends Out First Wave Of Stimulus Checks
MIAMI (CBSMiami/CNN) -- You might want to check your bank account for some extra money.
The Internal Revenue Service sent out the first wave of stimulus checks on Saturday, part of the $2.2 trillion economic relief package that Congress approved in March.
Some 16.8 million workers have filed claims for jobless benefits in the last three weeks. One consequence of that spike: Nearly a third of American renters did not pay their rent between April 1 and April 5.
Deposits will continue in the days ahead, starting with people who have filed tax returns for 2018 or 2019 and authorized direct deposit. Others -- including people who haven't filed returns, authorized direct deposits, or receive Social Security -- will probably have to wait weeks or months before seeing their money.
Under the economic relief package, individuals are due up to $1,200 and couples will receive up to $2,400 -- plus $500 per child. But payments start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000. The amount will then be reduced by $5 for every additional $100 of adjusted gross income, and those making more than $99,000 will not receive anything. The income thresholds would be doubled for couples.
For those who haven't filed a return for either 2019 or 2018, the IRS urges them to do so quickly including for those who don't normally need to file a tax return. That includes individuals who earned less than $12,200 in 2019 and couples who earned less than $24,400.
Meanwhile, the IRS expects to start issuing paper checks the week of May 4, according to the House Democratic memo.
The paper checks will be issued at a rate of about 5 million per week, the memo says. Individuals with the lowest income, based on adjusted gross income, will receive their checks first.
In the past, it has taken longer to send checks than make direct deposits. In 2008, when the government distributed similar stimulus money, deposits were made over a three-week period, while paper checks were sent through the mail over a 10-week period.
According to the legislation, the IRS has until the end of 2020 to transfer the payments.
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