Many families have already taken advantage of the third round of stimulus funds, which was distributed from March through December of last year.
However, the stimulus program continues to have an impact on tax season, as we deal with new letters and the possibility of tax credits. And if you’re short on cash, you’ll want to pay even closer attention to your surroundings.
Late in January, the Internal Revenue Service began issuing what it refers to as Letter 6475 to taxpayers. It is a letter that provides information about your Economic Impact Payment for the year 2021.
A copy of the letter may be obtained on the IRS website. The letter can assist tax filers in determining whether they are owed additional money and whether they are entitled to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return when they submit their return this year. Many people have already gotten the whole amount, but there are still some who have not.
What could be confusing?
The Recovery Rebate Credit is not a brand-new tax break. It was made accessible on 2020 tax returns that were submitted last year for the first two pandemic-related stimulus payments that would be available in the following year.
While there was no Letter 6475 last year, according to Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer at Jackson Hewitt, “there was no Letter 6475 this year.”
It is the intention of this new letter, according to Steber, to assist tax filers in better determining how much they actually received for the third stimulus payment last year.
“It will be really beneficial for anyone who is uncertain or owing additional funds,” Steber added.
Millions of mistakes were made on 2020 tax filings relating the first two stimulus payouts during the previous tax season, resulting in more complications and lengthier delays in obtaining refund monies this year.
Because some filers made mistakes or rushed to complete their forms too quickly, the information submitted by tax filers did not match the information kept on file by the Internal Revenue Service for stimulus funds.
“They made educated guesses, made educated estimates, and were unsure. They attempted to take advantage of the situation twice. They weren’t certain of the sum, yet “Steber expressed himself.
While some taxpayers incorrectly claimed the entire Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax returns, others correctly claimed the credit despite having received all of the money they were eligible to receive in two rounds of stimulus payments during the year.
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a warning to taxpayers this year, advising them to double-check their 2021 federal income tax returns to ensure that the amounts you got last year for the monthly advance child tax credit and the Economic Impact Payment line up with government records and are submitted accurately.
If your data does not match, you will be placed in the IRS error resolution queue, and you will not be a happy camper as a result of this.
“Incorrect inputs when reporting these payments mean that the IRS will need to further evaluate the tax return, resulting in an extended period of time,” the IRS said in a press release.
For tax returns filed in 2021, the maximum Recovery Rebate Credit is $1,400 per individual, including all qualifying dependents who are claimed on the tax return in question. For example, a married couple with no dependents may be eligible for up to $2,800 in assistance.
The important aspect to remember is that if you received the entire amount in advance through the third stimulus payment, you would not be eligible for any additional money when you submitted your tax return, and you would not be able to claim your Recovery Rebate Credit.
When it comes to filing their taxes this year, some people may be perplexed by the fact that the third stimulus payment did not arrive in one lump sum for some families.
In addition to the original direct deposit or stimulus check sent last year, the IRS provided what were known as “plus up” payments to millions of taxpayers who qualified for the stimulus money. However, not all of these individuals received “plus up” payments.
Based on their 2019 tax returns, some folks received a smaller sum in March or April of last year than they expected. They received a “plus up” payment later in the year after filing a 2020 income tax return, which was received later in the year. Their income could have decreased significantly during the crisis in 2020; as a result, they could have qualified for more stimulus funds based on their 2020 tax return.
Some of these “plus-up” payments were also made to those who had already received money based on information obtained from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, or Department of Veterans Affairs, among other sources.
The IRS Letter 6475 provides you with a detailed breakdown of the total amount of money you received for your 2021 stimulus payment or payments during the previous fiscal year.
Depending on whether or not you received the entire amount all at once, it may be more difficult to assess any potential credit by just reading your bank transactions.
According to Mark Luscombe, chief analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, some persons may also make a mistake if they attempt to use money they got for their second stimulus payment in their computation for the 2021 tax return, which is prohibited by law.
The second stimulus payment was made late in 2020 – the Internal Revenue Service began mailing cheques to recipients on December 30, 2020. Depending on your situation, the funds may have arrived in early 2021, but they are not included in the Recovery Rebate Credit calculations on your 2021 tax return.
Letter 6475 can help you prevent any misunderstandings about which payments should be included and which payments should not be included on your 2021 tax return by referring to it.
What is the significance of this?
You got the third stimulus payment in advance of the Recovery Rebate Credit that you may be able to claim on your federal income tax return in 2021.
You should double-check your tax returns this year to make sure you get the entire amount of the third stimulus. Recovery Rebate Credit claims for overpayments must be made by the 2021 federal income tax return deadline.
Since you filed your federal income tax returns for 2019 or 2020, many things may have changed in your personal life.
The Recovery Rebate Credit can be used to claim up to a maximum of $1,400 owed for the birth of a child in 2021.
On their 2021 tax return, the child’s parents would need to be able to claim the child as a dependant and meet income requirements for the credit.
It can be found on page two, Line 30 of the 1040 tax form for the year 2021.
Many persons who had higher-paying employment in 2021 will no longer be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit because of the income limit. More swiftly than on the previous year’s return, the 2021 credit is approaching $0
For example, a single person with an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or more is ineligible for any tax credits.
With an adjusted gross income of $160,000 or more, a married couple filing a joint return is unable to claim any Recovery Rebate Credit money.
After earning $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a married couple filing a joint tax return, the phase-out for a lesser credit begins.
What kind of letter is 6475?
The top of the letter reads, “Your Third Economic Impact Payment(s)” and the bottom right-hand corner reads, “Letter 6475.”
Late in January, these letters began to circulate.
As many families did in 2021, you’ll need to save two different IRS letters: Letter 6419 for the child tax credit and Letter 6475 for the third stimulus payment. If you received both of these payments in advance, you’ll need to save both of these letters.
For the tax year of 2021, the IRS issued out a “Notice 1444-C” indicating an advance on the third Economic Impact Payment (EIP). You can also refer to the letter you kept from last year if you need to.
However, you may receive more than one notice if you got stimulus money at different times throughout the year. Letter 6475 once again provides you with a monetary total.
Is my third stimulus income required?
No. Taxable income does not apply to the Economic Impact Payment. Moreover, according to Letter 6475, you should not record it as income on your federal income tax return for 2021.
You don’t have to pay back any of the money you received from the third stimulus payment. This is true even if your 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit qualifies you for a reduced payment.
If I misplace or never receive this letter, what should I do?
In addition, tax payers can access their Economic Impact Payment amounts via “Your Online Account” at IRS.gov. You’ll want to avoid making a mistake here, as doing so could result in additional delays.