2020 Stimulus payments

[roniswindell]

Is everybody else having as much trouble as I do on verifying the amount taxpayers have received on the first two stimulus payments for 2020?  It was easier when Get My Payment was still available on IRS.gov, but now that service is for the third payment only.  I have been telling clients to go back through their bank statement records to find it, whether online or hard copy.  It is especially difficult when the Pro Series program calculates an odd amount, like $964 for the normally $1,200 one, for instance.  But rarely is that the amount the client will say they received.  Is there an easier way? 

[PATAX]

My experience with this is that both Pro Series and the IRS did a pretty good job on this... A few clients may have selective amnesia... the IRS is honest and if someone is entitled to an additional amount based on the ACTUAL 2020 figures then the IRS will properly take care of that matter...  just my opinion...

[rbynaker]

Have the taxpayer (and spouse if applicable) create an IRS account.  The info is in there.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USIRS/bulletins/2c0baab

Rick

[BobKamman]

The program calculates an amount based on 2020 income and filing status.  It shouldn't be difficult to understand that might be different from a payment based on 2018 or 2019 income and filing status.  

[dkh · Accepted solution]

Don't look at the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet in the 2020 return to determine what they received. That is for determining what they actually qualify for.   I made a simple spreadsheet and plugged in the 2018 and/or 2019 return information to calculate what IRS should have sent.  I use that information to help prod my clients memory when they act clueless to what they received.   I find them more motivated to look for the payment information when I tell them they didn't receive all they were entitled to but I need to know exactly what was previously sent to get them the balance....  😁

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Its the clients responsibility to find this, they got the money, they got IRS notices telling them how much it was....if they cant do some digging to find the amount, either put their best guess and let IRS delay their refund for a few months while they correct it, or assume they got it all and theyve got nothing more coming.

Its not your job to care about this more than the client!

[BobKamman]

IRS is going to delay the refund for a few months regardless of what you do, so go ahead and guess in favor of the client so that there is something on the return to adjust.  Commissioner Rettig just patted himself on the back for five pages of blaming everyone else for causing return processing delays while his people make heroic efforts -- to correct mistakes that would not have occurred if they had just left the data available on "Where's My Payment" a few months longer. 

[qbteachmt]

They can make an online profile to access their Tax Account records or get a transcript for you, which can be done by paper request, even.

https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account

https://www.irs.gov/payments/frequently-asked-questions-about-online-account

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/tas-tax-tip-find-my-economic-impact-payment-amount-to-clai...