The deadline for filing your taxes this year is April 15, or Oct. 15 if you file for an extension.
Angela Lang/CNET
Sure, you may get your federal tax refund quicker if you file as soon as the IRS starts processing returns on Feb. 12. But this year, you have two more good reasons to start preparing now for tax season 2020. By setting up direct deposit with the IRS, you mostly likely will receive your third stimulus check sooner, especially if it happens during tax season. By filing as soon as you can, you’ll also be able to quickly recover any unpaid stimulus check money you’re owed.
At least 8 million people who were eligible for stimulus check money didn’t receive a check they should have, and millions more may not have gotten all the funds they were entitled to, because of a clerical error or some other issue. There may also have been some problems with custody and child support, missing money for child dependents in general, or accidental garnishment.
Whatever the case, we’ll explain how filing early will help you get your absent stimulus check money (along with a tax refund, if you qualify). Then we’ll show you how to estimate your total and what you need to do to get the stimulus check tax credit on your 2020 tax return. In addition, here’s everything to know about stimulus checks and your 2020 taxes, the top facts you should keep in mind and when it’s time to contact the IRS or set up a payment trace.
Calendar dates: When you could get missing stimulus money and tax refund
Though you can still technically file your taxes by post and request a paper check, the fastest way to get money you’re owed is to file electronically and have funds deposited directly into your bank account. This year, the IRS won’t begin accepting tax returns until Feb. 12, making that the soonest you can submit your own (April 15 is the last day to file). The IRS says 90% of filers will receive their refunds in 21 days or sooner, but it could also take even less time than that.
The IRS says its Where’s My Refund tool will reflect the status of your refund within 24 hours of filing, which could include a confirmation that your refund has been issued. From there, it could take anywhere from one to three days for the money to appear in your bank account.
When to expect your tax refund
| If you file on this date | This is the soonest | This is the latest |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 12 | Feb. 19 | March 5 |
| March 1 | March 8 | March 22 |
| April 1 | April 8 | April 22 |
| April 15 (last day to file) | April 22 | May 6 |
| Oct. 15 (last day with extension) | Oct. 22 | Nov. 5 |
Assuming seven days is the soonest you’d get your combined tax/stimulus refund and 21 days is the longest, we’ve sketched out what a difference filing sooner, rather than later, could make. (There’s more directly below on how to calculate how much money you might get in addition to your tax refund.)
See if the IRS owes you a stimulus payment
To figure out whether and how much money you’re owed from a previous round of stimulus checks, if any, first you have to determine how much you were owed for each previous payment, then subtract from that the amount you actually received (if any).
Watch this:
Second stimulus checks: Everything you need to know
3:22
Here’s how to calculate the payments you were owed:
Next, you’ll want to check your bank account where your payments were deposited to determine the amount. (If you received an EIP card, you can check the balance and transaction history here.) The IRS should’ve sent you a letter within 15 days of issuing your stimulus check, however it was issued, and that letter should indicate how much money you received. (Here’s what to do if you didn’t get the IRS’ notice.)
If you no longer have that letter, you can use the IRS’s Get My Payment tool to help you figure out when you received the payment. It’ll also show you the last four digits of the bank account it was deposited into if it was deposited directly.
There’s also a form to help you figure out the amount you’re owed on page 59 of this PDF detailing instructions for 1040 and 1040-SR tax forms, but it’s a doozy to follow.
If one of your previous stimulus checks was mistakenly cut, you can claim the difference as a tax credit when you file this year.
Angela Lang/CNET
5 reasons the IRS could owe you money from either stimulus check
There are all kinds of reasons why the IRS might still owe you stimulus check money, including:
How to claim your stimulus credit when you file taxes
The IRS requires you to fill out either form 1040 or 1040-SR if you’re going to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 taxes. Once you have the amount you’re owed worked out, you’ll enter it on line 30 of either of those forms (see screenshot). Yes, it’s that simple.
The fastest way to get your money is to file electronically and have funds deposited into a bank account.
Sarah Tew/CNET
How your missing stimulus check money will arrive
If you’re due a refund from the IRS, it’ll include both your full refund amount plus whatever you’re owed from the Recovery Rebate Credit. In other words, it’ll be bigger. If, however, you owe the IRS money, your Recovery Rebate Credit will be applied to the debt. If the tax credit is more than you owe, you’ll receive the difference as a refund.
Here’s what to do if you’re a nonfiler, i.e. you won’t be filing taxes for 2020, and you’re still owed a stimulus check. If you have child dependents, this information about the child tax credit could help put more money in your pocket. And here’s how to calculate your Adjusted Gross Income, aka “AGI.”