Stimulus checks have helped us get through a stressful time, but not everyone got their checks.
“It just says status unavailable needs more information," said Bobbi Crum of Chilhowie, Virginia.
Crum received the first stimulus check, but the second does not look like it's coming anytime soon.
"I’ve called every number I could find and it’s always a recording, and if you don’t hit the right button, it hangs up on you," Crum said. "So I just kind of gave up on that one."
Kelsie Bartell and her fiancé Joseph Reynolds of Kingsport are in a similar boat. Bartell received both checks but Reynolds, who was eligible for both, has not seen a penny.
"It’s super frustrating, you see other people going out and buying all brand new TV’s and everything and we’re just like well what about us," said Bartell. "We’re just sitting here waiting on it, just twiddling our thumbs and it sucks, it’s not fun.”
So why are people who are eligible for stimulus payments, not receiving stimulus money? Harold Branstrator, an associate professor of management at Tusculum University and current IRS enrolled agent says there is an explanation.
"The government has a database and sometimes the individuals don’t appear there," Branstrator said. "They may not have filed a return in 2018 or 2019, or their accounts were merged. They’re deciphering this right now. Then COVID-19 hit which made things even worse for them since they had to cut down operations.”
However, Branstrator explained there is a way to get that money, and it involves filing your taxes.
"Now the solution is to put it on a line item on the 1040," he said. "It will be line 30 and what they’ll do is they’ll fill out, there’s a sub-form and it calculates the $1,200 refund or the $600 refund and whether you have a single or joint tax return, plus funds for children.”
Branstrator also said for people that don't file taxes and are missing stimulus payments, there is a possible solution.
"They may not have a checking account to send the money to," he said. "See the government has your social security number but it doesn’t really have access to all branches of the IRS at the same time, to your personal data, your account number. And they may have an old outdated account number, which no longer exists for that person.”
Tusculum University is also providing free tax preparation services in Greeneville and Johnson City.
To schedule an appointment call 423-636-7414
QUALIFCATIONS (Must Meet One)
- Individuals with a gross income of less than $57,000
- Anyone older than 65
- Those with a disability
- Those who do not speak English as their primary language
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- W-2 and 1099 forms
- Dividend and interest statements
- Tax documents related to their small business or rental property and any other items required for a complete filing
JOHNSON CITY LOCATION INFORMATION
- Westminster Presbyterian Church
- 2343 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City, TN, 37604.
- Dates: February 22, March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29 and April 5
- Time: 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
GREENEVILLE LOCATION INFORMATION
- Tusculum University (Greeneville Campus)
- 60 Shiloh Rd, Tusculum, TN 37745
- Bottom floor of the Meen Center
- Dates: February 18, February 25, March 4, March 11, March 18, March 25, April 1 and April 8
- Time: 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.