Cross References
- Rev. Proc. 2020-28

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) gives eligible individuals an Economic Impact Payment based upon a taxpayer's filing status and adjusted gross income. Low income individuals who normally do not file a tax return have the following options:
1) If the low income individual receives Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, the IRS will use information to automatically generate a payment based upon Form SSA-199, Social Security Benefit Statement, or Form RRB-1099, Social Security Equivalent Benefit Statement.
2) If the low income individual does not receive any federal benefits such as Social Security or Railroad Retirement, the individual can go to www.irs.gov and click on the "Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here" tool to submit information to the IRS to receive their allowed payment.
3) If the low income individual does not want to use the IRS website, the individual can file a 2019 tax return and report zero taxable income on the return, which will generate an Economic Impact Payment.

For taxpayers who prefer to file a tax return even though they are below the filing requirement, the IRS has issued a simplified procedure for filing a 2019 tax return in order to receive the payment. Only individuals who are not otherwise required to file a tax return may use this procedure. This simplified return must be filed electronically or on paper by October 15, 2020.

The simplified return filer may use either Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors, for tax year 2019. The simplified return should include only the following information:
- Enter the name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN) of the filer (including spouse if filing joint). The SSN must be valid for employment. If filing a joint return, both spouses must have a valid SSN, unless one spouse is a member of the Armed Forces of the U.S. at any time during 2019 (in which case the spouse without a valid SSN enters his or her IRS individual Taxpayer Identification Number).
- Write "EIP2020" on the top of page 1 of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
- Enter filing status.
- Check all applicable boxes under the address lines for each individual who could be claimed as a dependent by any other taxpayer for 2019.
- Enter all general information regarding each dependent who was under the age of 17 at the end of 2019 on the appropriate lines of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, including their name, SSN or ATIN, and relationship to the individual filer. Column (4) of each line should be left blank.
- Except for the next bullet point, leave lines 1 through 24 of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR blank, even if the values for these lines are greater than zero.
- If the return is filed electronically, enter $1 on lines 2b, 7b, and 8b, the applicable standard deduction on line 9, and zero on line 11b. $1 should be entered on these applicable lines even if the filer otherwise has zero AGI for 2019. This is only required if the return is filed electronically. It does not apply for a return filed on paper.
- The box on line 21a should not be checked because the Economic Impact Payment may not be divided among multiple accounts.
- Enter bank account information on lines 21b through 21d if direct deposit is desired.
- Enter the filer's identity protection personal identification number if the filer has one.
- Sign the return and identify any third-party designee, if applicable.