Pappas Urgently Requests Deadline Extension for Granite Staters at Risk of Missing out on Stimulus Checks

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led 8 lawmakers in calling on the IRS to extend its deadline for dependent registration.

This request comes after the announcement made on Monday, April 20, 2020 by the IRS that people who are not typically required to file with the IRS, including Veterans Affairs beneficiaries and Social Security recipients, only have 48 hours to claim their dependents in order to receive the additional $500 per child in their economic impact payment. Those who do not register their dependents by the 12pm ET, April 22, 2020 deadline may have to wait until next year to receive these critical payments.

"At this moment, Americans are rightly focused on keeping their loved ones safe and their households afloat – they do not need the additional anxiety that this deadline will cause. Moreover, we are extremely concerned that millions of Americans could miss out on payments that would make a real difference to their families because they are either unaware of the cutoff date or unable to meet this arbitrary time limit," the lawmakers wrote. "Again, we are grateful for your diligent work to provide economic assistance to the American people at this difficult time. However, to ensure that every American can receive the direct payments they need to sustain their families during this pandemic, we urge you to delay the April 22nd deadline."

The full text of the letter can be read here and below:

Dear Commissioner Rettig and Secretary Mnuchin:

Thank you for your continued leadership in quickly securing passage of the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), which is providing desperately needed economic impact payments to millions of Americans. We write today to express deep concern about the IRS' April 20, 2020 special alert establishing a 12pm ET, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 deadline for many federal benefit recipients to register to receive $500 economic impact payments for their dependent children.

As you know, to help families weather the current economic downturn, the CARES Act provides $1,200 for individuals making up to $75,000, $2,400 for married couples making up to $150,000, and $500 for each child under 17 years old. In addition, the CARES Act provides eligibility to Veterans Affairs beneficiaries as well as Americans who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), even if they do not typically file tax returns with the IRS.

The CARES Act also gives the Treasury Department the authority to automatically provide payments to these beneficiaries even though they were not required to file 2018 or 2019 tax returns. We are grateful that the IRS listened and reversed its original guidance and is not requiring these groups to take any action in order to receive the payments they are entitled to under law.

Unfortunately, on Monday, April 20, 2020, the IRS announced that many Americans who are not typically required to file tax returns would need to do so by Wednesday, April 22, 2020 in order to receive the $500 per child economic impact payment. Those who do not register their dependents by the deadline may have to wait until next year to receive these payments.

We urge you to reconsider this decision. By setting a dangerously short window for non-filers to act to receive payments for their dependent children, the IRS is undermining Congressional intent. That is why we call on you to extend the window for non-filers beyond tomorrow at Noon. At this moment, Americans are rightly focused on keeping their loved ones safe and their households afloat – they do not need the additional anxiety that this deadline will cause. Moreover, we are extremely concerned that millions of Americans could miss out on payments that would make a real difference to their families because they are either unaware of the cutoff date or unable to meet this arbitrary time limit.

Again, we are grateful for your diligent work to provide economic assistance to the American people at this difficult time. However, to ensure that every American can receive the direct payments they need to sustain their families during this pandemic, we urge you to delay the April 22nd deadline. Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.