(ARCHIVE) How to Fill out the IRS Non-Filer Form
Use the form if you are not planning to file a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return and have not received your stimulus payment.
Note: On November 21, 2020, the IRS closed the non-filer tool. To claim your stimulus checks, you will need to file a Tax Year 2020 tax return (filed in 2021). Learn how to claim the stimulus checks on your tax return here.

***Encuentra la guía para la herramienta Non-Filer de español aquí.***

You can access the following non-filer tool guidance as a Google doc here.

Fill out the IRS Non-filer tool if you are not planning to file a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return and have not received your stimulus payment.

Here is the full list of eligibility rules for the IRS Non-filer form:

  • You were a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying resident alien in 2019
    • This rule also applies to your spouse if married filing jointly
  • You are not a:
    • Social Security, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) recipient; OR
    • Railroad retiree or Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiary
  • You didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 federal income tax return AND are not required to filea 2019 federal income tax return. You don’t have to file if:
    • Your income is less than $12,200 (Note: if you have self-employment income over $400, you are required to file a federal tax return even if your total income is under $12,200)
    • You are married filing jointly and your combined income is less than $24,400
    • You have no income
  • Your filing status is single or married filing jointly. You must file a regular tax return if your filing status is married filing separately.

DO NOT use the Non-filer form if you filed a 2018 or 2019 federal tax return or participate in the federally administered programs noted above and haven’t received your payment yet. Completing the Non-filer form will not quicken your payment delivery. Additionally, do not use this form if you plan to file a 2019 tax return and haven’t done so yet.

When do you need to submit the IRS Non-filer form?

To receive your payment this year, you need to complete the Non-filer form by November 21, 2020. If you are eligible for other tax credits and want to claim them, you must instead file a regular tax return by October 15, 2020.

If you are required to file a tax return AND owe taxes, you must file and pay the amount you owe by July 15 to avoid late fees. If you need more time, you can get an extension to file the return until October 15, 2020, but you will need to pay the tax you owe by July 15.

If you miss the November 21 deadline you will be able to get your payment in 2021 by filing a 2020 tax return.

Getting started

The Non-filer form takes 10-20 minutes to complete. There are options to complete the form in both English and Spanish. These instructions are for the English form.

To complete the form, you will need:

  • A computer or mobile device with access to the internet
    • Note: the form does not resize on mobile devices. You’ll need to scroll right and left to complete all the form fields.
  • Full legal name
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Date of Birth
  • Mailing address
    • If you don’t have a permanent address, shelters or service providers may allow you to use their address for tax purposes. If you are not staying in a shelter or cannot find a service provider nearby, you can also use a trusted relative’s or friend’s address. The IRS will deliver checks to P.O. boxes.
  • Email address
    • If you don’t remember/have the password to your email, you can create a new email address for free through a provider like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, or AOL.
  • Bank Account direct deposit/routing number (optional)
    • Direct deposit is the quickest and safest way to get your payment. If you don’t have a bank account, you can still get your payment through direct deposit using a prepaid debit card, payment apps like CashApp, Venmo, or PayPal, or opening an online bank account. If you cannot use these options, you’ll get your payment as a paper check.

Step 1: Visit the IRS website to access the Non-filer form

Scroll down on this page: www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

When you see the options for completing the form, click the blue “Enter your information” button.

You will be taken to this page: https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/#/fd/EconomicImpactPayment

Click the blue “Get Started” button after reviewing this page to make sure you meet all criteria to use the form.

Step 2: Create an account

Fill out the information to create an account.

  • Email address: use an email address that you have access to. You will need to check your email to verify your address before submitting the form.
  • User ID: select a user ID that you will remember, that you don’t use for something else, and that doesn’t include personal information.
  • Phone number: while not required, it is recommended and can be used to help you access your account if you forget your password.
  • Password: requires both upper- and lower-case letters, 8 characters, a number, and a symbol. Choose a phrase that you can remember or write down your password in a secure place.

Once you complete the form and click the blue “create account” button, you will see an account confirmation page:

Hit the “Continue” button to begin completing the form.

Note: If you don’t use the form for 20 minutes, it will time out and you will see the following message:

Step 3: Fill out filing status, claim dependents, and provide banking information

For “STEP 1. Fill Out Your Tax Forms,” there is required and optional information to complete. Skip the optional fields if they do not apply to you.

Required:

  • Filing Status (Single or Married filing jointly)
  • First name, middle initial, and last name
  • Social Security Number (SSN): you must have a SSN that authorizes work for both you
  • Home address

Note: these fields are required for you and your spouse if you are married filing jointly.

Optional info:

  • Dependents:
  • Bank account routing info
  • Identity Protection PIN: only include if the IRS provided you a number because you’ve experienced identity theft.

After entering all the information that relates to you, click “Continue to Step 2”.

Step 4: Fill out income and personal identification information

“STEP 2 E-file your tax forms,” requests both required and optional information.

Required:

  • Personal verification:
    • The form asks for your AGI, or adjusted gross income, which is your income minus certain payments, like student loan interest, that won’t be taxed.
    • If you did NOT file taxes in 2018, enter “0” in the box for “Last year’s AGI”. Ignore part B which asks for last year’s self-selected signature PIN.
  • Date
  • Electronic signature: Instead of signing your name, your signature is a 5-digit PIN number that you create.
  • Date of birth

Note: these fields are required for you and your spouse if you are married filing jointly.

Optional:

  • Cell phone number
  • Driver’s license or state issued ID number, state, issue date, and expiration date – leave blank if you (or your spouse if married filing jointly) don’t have one

Step 5: Verify your email address

Before you can submit your form, you must verify your email address. “Click the Update Your Account” link.

A box will open on your screen that looks like this:

Click the “verify email” link that appears next to your email address.

Click the blue “send verification email” box.

Check your email. You will receive a message from the sender “Non-Filers Enter Payment Info” with the subject line “Your Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info – Account”. The message will look like this:

Click the “confirm my account’s email address” link which will open the following screen:

Close this window and return to the “Update your account” screen and click exit.

This will take you back to the form. Now your email address should show as verified:

Step 6: Submit your form

Click the blue “Continue to E-file” button.

If you’ve entered all the necessary information, you’ll be directed to a captcha verification page. Once you fill that in, you should be able to file your form. The IRS website states:

You will receive an e-mail from Customer Service at Free File Fillable Forms, a trusted IRS partner, that either acknowledges you have successfully submitted your information, or that tells you there is a problem and how to correct it. Free File Fillable forms will use the information to automatically complete a Form 1040 and transmit it to the IRS to compute and send you a payment.

Additional help

If you need more guidance to complete the Non-filer form, see the Free File Fillable Forms FAQs.

For individual help filing out the form, call the United Way’s 211 Economic Impact Payment Helpline: 1-844-322-3639. It operates with live agents who are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm through November 21, 2020.

For information about stimulus payments, visit the federal government’s main page for information: IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center.

Use the IRS Get My Payment tool to check when you will get your payment.



The latest