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US stimulus checks

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jcnomad
  6/11/2020 13:31 EST

Hello, this is regarding US citizens living abroad who are eligible for the stimulus payment.
Unfortunately the IRS website has had a number of technical glitches which still haven't been solved even after two months. For example, the Non-Filers form doesn't seem to work properly. For some reason the form asks for a state ID, which presumably means a state driving license number. If you don't have a state driving license, it says you can leave the field blank if you don't have one. But then it won't accept the form and you can't proceed. Completely illogical, considering that whenever you deal with the IRS you need only your social security number and not a state driving license. At least this is my experience and I've been living abroad for 22 years.
The Get my Payment tool on the IRS site, which tracks the payment, has also generated a lot of complaints, though I haven't used it yet since I haven't been able to submit the form anyway.
Also, since the deadline for receiving a direct deposit payment to a bank account passed on 13th May, (and that was only possible if you had a bank account in the US, direct deposit is not available to foreign acounts), now the only way to receive it is to have a paper check sent through the USPS. Obviously for those of us abroad, this could take a very long time, especially under the present conditions.
And the help line +1 800 919 9835 is only a recording with menu options, even though it was supposed to have a live person available on the line.
The stimulus payments are available up to 31st December. But if they can't fix these problems with their website, millions of people might never be able to get it.
In fact, they say that 159 million checks have been sent out, but apparently many were never received because of changes of address, or other logistical problems.
Bottom line, I don't know anyone, in or out of the US, who has actually received their stimulus payment even though they are eligible.
At this point it looks a lot like a unicorn.
Personally I would welcome any information that sm might have about 1. How to use the Non-Filers form without a state ID (I do have a passport of course but they ask for state ID)
and
2. If anyone has received a check abroad, how long did it take?

It would be great to hear from anyone out there who knows these things.

Thanks JC

MissDaisy
  6/11/2020 15:11 EST

I live in Cyprus. I used the website to check the status of my stimulus payment and it would not accept my foreign address ( I assumed it was because my zip code was 4 digits and not 5) at first. When I found out about the helpline I called via Skype and after being on hold for 15 minutes, I was able to speak to someone. Unfortunately the person could only answer generic questions - nothing specific about me and my check. He confirmed that I was eligible even though I live overseas.
He suggested I check the website again and I did so while he was on the phone so that I could tell him the exact error message I was getting. Lo and behold, the website worked and it said my check was issued 1 May. I received the check in the mail on 25 May. Now I have to send it back to the US to cash it/deposit in my US bank account.

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Muddled
  6/11/2020 18:34 EST

I applied

Muddled
  6/11/2020 18:37 EST

I applied for the stimulus check and received an actual check within three weeks; I no longer have a US bank account. I am a US citizen living in Ireland. I know several other Americans in Ireland that have applied and received the payment; some are still waiting.

Perhaps there's a system issue now that wasn't there before.

miki184
  6/13/2020 05:47 EST

This is incredible because I had no idea I was eligible as I too live abroad (but do US tax returns every year as required ) and got a check obviously without making a request as I didn't realize I could. It was not the $1,200 they spoke about in the news but it was something. It arrived last week so maybe even if you don't request it, it may be on it's way.

jcnomad
  6/14/2020 00:09 EST

it's good that you got it, a nice surprise if you weren't expecting it. :-)
In your case, if you filed last year and your income was under 75,000 then you would get the 1,200, but if your income was btw 75,000 to 100,000 then it would be less. And if you received it automatically then obviously the information on your tax return had not changed. Many people though need to be proactive to get the payment. Those whose income was under the minimum filing threshold and weren't required to file, they need to use the Non-Filers form. But many others who filed a return have also faced problems because their address has since changed, or their bank details have since changed.

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gSky
  8/8/2020 19:45 EST

I filed in May and now it's August and I receive the common 'n information available'. I live now in Austria but gave my US account.

There is no 'contact us'. Whom can I contact? I was for 2 hours waiting on the phone (which will cost). Then someone picked up and before I could say 'hi' I was disconnected, Is there an email address? Or at least a snail-mail address?

Muddled
  8/14/2020 17:34 EST

Do you have a website?

jcnomad
  8/18/2020 21:34 EST

since August 10th, apparently you can contact the taxpayer advocate service-
taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us
also there is www.irs.gov/help/navigate-irsgov
if you call the help lines +1-800 919 9835 or 1-800 829 1040, use Skype so you don't have to pay for the call.
I haven't yet tried using any of these myself, but now it's been 5 weeks since I registered for the payment so I'm also starting to get annoyed with the wait..
If I knew it would come in 50,or 60,or 80 days, then I wouldn't care, But it's the wondering if it will ever arrive at all. :-)

Andrealin56
  9/9/2020 05:38 EST

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