Get My Payment IL Coalition Continues to Increase Access to Stimulus Checks, Government Funds

The May 17 tax filing deadline has passed, but it’s not too late for many Illinoisans to file their taxes to receive funds from missing stimulus checks and other available tax credits. Thousands of dollars may still be available through tax refunds, even for those who have no earnings or who have not filed taxes in previous years. To help make the process easier, the Get My Payment IL Coalition is continuing to connect Illinoisans to free tax-filing resources and working with them to understand which credits they are eligible for.

The three main tax credits that Illinoisans may be able to claim to receive these funds include the –

• Recovery Rebate Credit (for missing stimulus checks) – Eligible Illinoisans who haven’t received their first and/or second stimulus checks or didn’t receive the full amounts, can still claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive up to $1,800 ($3,600 for married couples) and $1,100 for each eligible dependent under 17. Additionally, if an individual with a Social Security number did not receive the first two stimulus checks because their spouse had an ITIN, the individual may be eligible to receive them now by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit.
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Every year a little over one in five eligible Illinoisans don’t claim the EITC, leaving millions of dollars in tax credits unclaimed. The EITC is a credit for workers, including those with children and those without children. Eligible low-income workers can qualify for tax credits ranging from $538 to $6,660 through the 2020 EITC. Workers without children must be between the ages of 25 and 64 to claim this credit this year. However, next year it will be available to childless workers age 18 and higher.
• Child Tax Credit (CTC) – For the 2020 CTC, individuals who earned more than $2,500 and who have children under age 17 may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 per child. In 2021, the CTC will be expanding, increasing the amount of money per eligible child and removing the $2,500 earnings minimum.

“Even though tax season is over, it’s not too late for people to receive their money. You can still file your taxes after the deadline to ensure you receive your stimulus checks and any additional benefits you are eligible for,” said Kathryn Socha, Director of Asset Building Programs for Heartland Human Care Services. “We are also encouraging individuals to file taxes from previous years, as 2019 and 2018 tax refunds are still available for those who are eligible. For example, if you earned income and had a dependent but didn’t file taxes for 2018 or 2019, you may receive a refund if you file those returns now.”

The two main tax credits that Illinoisans may be able to claim to receive past refunds include the –

• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Details for who is eligible for past years’ EITC and income cutoff information is available on the IRS website, and information regarding claiming children for the EITC can be found at eitcoutreach.org.
• Child Tax Credit (CTC) – To be eligible for the CTC for 2020 and earlier, an individual must make more than $2,500 and the child must be under the age of 17. Details regarding who qualifies for the past years’ CTC is available at eitcoutreach.org.

The Coalition’s website connects individuals to free online tax-filing resources and provides guides to help make the process easier, especially for those who may not have filed taxes in the past. For those who do not have internet access, a hotline is available at 888-553-9777 through which the Coalition can help answer questions about the stimulus checks. Additionally, if needed, the Coalition can share the necessary tax forms and instructions for paper filing. To file previous years’ taxes, individuals will need to paper file, pay a commercial preparer to file electronically or seek assistance from an organization participating in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that can prepare their taxes for free.

To learn more about how to receive stimulus checks, other tax credit eligibility and where to get free tax-filing resources, visit GetMyPaymentIL.org. For those who do not have internet access or are not computer savvy, representatives are available via the hotline at 888-553-9777.

Get My Payment IL Coalition Works to Increase Access to Stimulus Checks, Government Funds

Many Illinoisans are eligible for thousands of dollars this year from missed stimulus checks and a variety of tax credits being offered or expanded due to the pandemic. All they have to do is file a 2020 tax return. Even people who are not required to file taxes, who have no earnings, or who have not filed taxes in previous years may be eligible to receive these funds, and the Get My Payment IL Coalition is helping make the process easier for these individuals by connecting them to free tax-filing resources and working with them to understand which credits they are eligible for.

The three main tax credits that low- and/or no-income Illinoisans may be able to claim to receive these benefits include the –

• Recovery Rebate Credit (for missing stimulus checks) – Eligible Illinoisans who haven’t received their first and/or second stimulus checks or didn’t receive the full amounts, can still claim the Recovery Rebate Credit to receive up to $1,800 ($3,600 for married couples) and $1,100 for each eligible dependent under 17. Additionally, if an individual with a Social Security number did not receive the first two stimulus checks because their spouse had an ITIN, the individual may be eligible to receive them now by claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit.
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Eligible low-income workers can qualify for tax credits ranging from $538 to $6,660 through the EITC – even workers without children.
• Child Tax Credit (CTC) – Through the newly-expanded CTC for 2021, individuals can receive up to $3,600 per child under age 6 and up to $3,000 per child between ages 6 and 17. For example, an individual with three children can receive between $9,000 to $10,800 by claiming this tax credit. The IRS will start issuing monthly payments of the credit starting in July; eligible individuals can receive up to half of their 2021 Child Tax Credit amount in 2021 and the other half when they file their 2021 tax returns.

“There is a lot of money available this year through tax credits to help Illinoisans struggling through the pandemic, and often the people who need these benefits the most are the ones with the most barriers to access them,” said Tracy Frizzell, Executive Director of the Economic Awareness Council. “We formed the Get My Payment IL Coalition to ensure hard-working, low-income Illinoisans are receiving their stimulus checks. As tax season comes to a close, we want to tell as many people as possible to file their taxes to get those funds, as well as any additional benefits they are eligible for.”

The Coalition’s website connects individuals to free online tax-filing services and provides guides to help make the process easier, especially for those who may not have filed taxes in the past. For those who do not have internet access, a hotline is available at 888-553-9777 through which the Coalition can help answer questions about the stimulus checks. Additionally, if needed, the Coalition can share the necessary tax forms and instructions for paper filing. The extended deadline to file taxes is May 17, 2021.

To learn more about how to receive stimulus checks, other tax credit eligibility, and where to get free tax-filing resources, visit GetMyPaymentIL.org. For those who do not have internet access or are not computer savvy, representatives are available via the hotline at 888-553-9777.

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Los residentes de Illinois de bajos ingresos podrían ser elegibles para recibir dinero de los cheques de estímulo perdidos

Get My Payment IL Coalition se dedica a hacer más accesibles los pagos de impacto económico y fondos del gobierno

Muchos habitantes de Illinois cumplen los requisitos para recibir miles de dólares este año, provenientes de cheques que no han recibido y varios créditos tributarios que han sido brindados o ampliados debido a la pandemia.  Lo único que tienen que hacer es presentar una declaración de impuestos del año 2020. Incluso las personas que no requieren presentar declaraciones, que no tienen ingresos o que no han presentado una declaración de impuestos en años anteriores, podrían calificar para recibir estos fondos. Get My Payment IL Coalition está ayudando a hacer el proceso más fácil para estas personas, poniéndolas en contacto con recursos gratuitos para presentar declaraciones de impuestos y trabajando junto con ellas para entender los créditos a los que califican.

Los tres principales créditos tributarios que los habitantes sin ingresos o de bajos ingresos de Illinois podrían solicitar para recibir estos beneficios son:

• Crédito de Recuperación de Reembolso (para pagos de impacto económico que no se han recibido) – Los habitantes de Illinois que cumplen los requisitos y que no han recibido su primer o segundo pago de impacto económico (también conocido como pago de estímulo económico o cheque de estímulo económico), o que no recibieron las cantidades correspondientes completas, aún pueden solicitar el Crédito de Recuperación de Reembolso para recibir hasta 1,800 dólares (3,600 dólares para parejas casadas) y 1,100 dólares por cada dependiente de menos de 17 años que cumpla los requisitos. Además, si una persona con un número de Seguro Social no recibió los primeros dos pagos de impacto económico porque su esposo o esposa tenía un Número de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente (ITIN, por sus siglas en inglés), dicha persona podría calificar para recibirlos ahora, al solicitar el Crédito de Recuperación de Reembolso.
• Crédito tributario por ingreso del trabajo (EITC, por sus siglas en inglés) – Los trabajadores de bajos recursos que califiquen para créditos tributarios de 538 a 6,660 dólares a través del EITC, inclusive trabajadores que no tienen hijos.
• Crédito tributario por hijos (CTC, por sus siglas en inglés) – A través del recién expandido CTC para el año 2021, las personas pueden recibir hasta 3,600 dólares por hijo de menos de 6 años de edad y hasta 3,000 dólares por hijo de 6 a 17 años de edad. Por ejemplo, una persona con tres hijos puede recibir entre 9,000 y 10,800 dólares al solicitar este crédito tributario. El Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS) empezará a enviar pagos mensuales del crédito en julio; las personas que cumplen los requisitos pueden recibir hasta la mitad de la cantidad de su Crédito tributario por hijos de 2021 en el año 2021 y la otra mitad cuando presenten su declaración de impuestos del año 2021.

“Hay mucho dinero disponible este año a través de créditos tributarios para ayudar a los habitantes de Illinois que están teniendo dificultades debido a la pandemia; frecuentemente, la gente que más necesita estos beneficios es la que tiene más obstáculos para acceder a los mismos”, señaló Tracy Frizzell, Directora Ejecutiva del Economic Awareness Council. “Formamos Get My Payment IL Coalition para asegurar que los habitantes de Illinois de bajos ingresos que trabajan arduamente reciban sus pagos de impacto económico. A medida que se acerca el final de la temporada de impuestos, queremos decirle a la mayor cantidad de gente posible que presenten su declaración de impuestos para obtener esos fondos, además de cualquier otro beneficio adicional para el cual califiquen”, añadió.

El sitio web de la coalición pone a personas en contacto con servicios en línea gratuitos de presentación de declaraciones de impuestos y proporciona guías para hacer el proceso más fácil, especialmente para aquellas personas que tal vez no han presentado declaraciones anteriormente. Para quienes no cuentan con acceso a Internet o les cuesta trabajo usar la computadora, está disponible una línea telefónica en el 888-553-9777, a través de la cual la coalición puede ayudar a responder preguntas sobre los pagos de impacto económico. Además, si se necesita, la coalición puede compartir los formularios de impuestos requeridos y las instrucciones necesarias para presentar una declaración en papel. La nueva fecha límite para presentar declaraciones de impuestos es el 17 de mayo de 2021.

Para obtener más información sobre cómo recibir los pagos de impacto económico, los requisitos para otros créditos tributarios y dónde obtener recursos gratuitos para presentar declaraciones de impuestos, visite  GetMyPaymentIL.org. Para aquellos que no cuentan con acceso a Internet o no saben mucho de computación, contamos con representantes disponibles a través de la línea telefónica en el 888-553-9777.