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Taxpayer
Advocacy Panel (TAP)
Want to improve
the IRS?¨SPEAK
UP
By Andrea Price, TAP member representing Ohio
Guest Column
The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is comprised of civic-minded
citizen volunteers from all walks of life representing each
state, D.C., Puerto Rico and an international member
(citizens living, working or doing business abroad). TAP is
a Federal Advisory Committee whose mission is to listen to
taxpayers, identify taxpayers’ issues and make suggestions
for improving the IRS service and customer satisfaction.
Everyone has something to say about taxes and the IRS.
Please take a moment to give us your suggestions for TAP to
consider by contacting one of the following:
TAP Ohio member:
tapohioandreaprice@gmail.com
Call Toll-free at:1-888-912-1227
Website:
www.improveirs.org
Taxpayer Advocate Service Tax Tip: Taxpayers not normally
required to file should register for an Economic Impact
Payment by November 21, 2020.
Taxpayers who normally are not required to file a federal
tax return have more time to claim the Economic Impact
Payment (EIP) this year. Taxpayers with incomes below
$24,400 for married couples, and $12,200 for single
individuals who cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone
else, do not typically have a filing requirement. For more
details about filing requirements in general, see Table 1-1
in IRS Publication 17.
Anyone who is not required to file a federal tax return but
is eligible
for an EIP, did not already
register for an EIP, and did not already receive an EIP,
must go to irs.gov and use
the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool to
claim a payment by 3 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 21.
The IRS cannot issue EIPs after December 31, 2020. Using the
tool and requesting direct deposit is recommended, so the
IRS has time to process the information and issue EIPs to
eligible taxpayers prior to that date.
The extended claim date also applies to:
·
Social Security,
Railroad Retirement and Department of Veteran Affairs
benefit recipients,
who already received a $1,200 payment, but who wish to
register for a payment for their spouse or qualifying child.
·
Incarcerated individuals
–for the most up to date information about incarcerated
individuals and EIP claim options. Anyone using the
Non-Filers tool can speed up the arrival of their payment by
choosing to receive it by direct deposit. Those not choosing
this option will get a check.
If you miss this deadline, you will need to wait until next
year and claim the payment as a credit (known as the
Recovery Rebate Credit) by filing a 2020 tax return.
Available Help Options: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics
Some Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) may be able to help
individuals whose household
income does not exceed 250 percent of the Federal Poverty
Guidelines with completing the IRS Non-Filers tool or filing
a 2019 tax return in order to claim the EIP.
These LITCs
have stepped forward to provide assistance to eligible
taxpayers for claiming the EIP,
subject to availability of services. Some LITCs serve only
specific geographic areas, so it is recommended that
taxpayers contact an LITC near them, when possible.
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