Taxpayer asks:
My stimulus check is wrong. How can I fix it? I tried calling the IRS but couldn’t get anyone on the phone.
Taxgirl says:
The short answer is that you can’t immediately fix it. Even if you could get someone on the phone, the advice will be the same: you’ll have to wait. Specifically, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says on its website, “The IRS is not able to correct or issue additional payments at this time.”
There is some good news. You can fix it eventually. You will be able to claim the additional amount – either the missing $500 for a child or an adjustment because of your income – when you file your 2020 tax return in 2021. You’ll want to hang on to Notice 1444, Your Economic Impact Payment (you should receive it about two weeks after you receive your check) so that you’ll know how much to claim when it comes time to file.
(And yes, there has been some chatter about a fall fix, but so far, that’s not in the cards.)
Before you go: be sure to read my disclaimer. Remember, I’m a lawyer and we love disclaimers.
If you have a question, here’s how to Ask The Taxgirl.
If I was unaware of someone using my ssn to claim me under dependent how do I go about receiving the stimulus check? Also I receive disability for my daughter
Unfortunately, if you were being claimed (legitimately) by someone else as a dependent, there’s not much you can do even if you were not aware, except have a conversation with that person. I’ve seen this a lot lately with respect to college students or adult children.
If, on the other hand, someone was claiming you who was not entitled to do so, you can try filing a return and then have a discussion with IRS (typically, it will bounce and you’ll have the opportunity to contest it). It’s hard to tell based on your question, but if it’s a matter of ID theft, you can report it to the IRS by filing a paper return and sending in a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit.