Question

Inmates and stimulus package

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
April 16, 2020
6 replies
0 views

My brother is incarcerated, he did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 as he was incarcerated during those years. However he does purchase things that stimulate the economy just not in the typical way. Does he qualify for a stimulus check? If so how would we go about it? Sign him up on the Non-filers link on the irs.gov website?

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GiseleD

If he qualifies for a stimulus payment and is not required to file a tax return, and does not receive Social Security income, he can e-file his IRS registration for free with TurboTax to receive the stimulus payment with our Stimulus Registration.

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T

TJMooreAuthor

@GiseleD Can I file for him, as he doesn't have internet access as an inmate.

GiseleD

I'm sorry, I misread your original question. I thought he was currently out of prison. If he is still incarcerated, and was throughout all of 2018 and 2019, he will not currently qualify for the stimulus now. He is a ward/dependent of the state.

@TJMoore

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W

whiparino

What does my incarcerated son have to do to file for stimulus

E

ErnieS0

Your son will have to file a 2020 income tax return to get the stimulus payments. The IRS is no longer sending out separate stimulus payments. Instead the stimulus amounts will be included as a “refund” on the 2020 tax return. He should get $1,800 ($1,200 + $600).

Generally, you are eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit (stimulus) if you were a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien in 2020, cannot be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer for tax year 2020, and have a Social Security number valid for employment that is issued before the due date of your 2020 tax return (including extensions).

Learn more at What is the Recovery Rebate Credit?

Pay received for work while an inmate in a penal institution is not taxable so if your son is working, he does not have to include that income on his tax return.

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C

cowsanducks

My husband incarcerated and has missed the last 2 years to file taxes and also missed sign up for 2020. He qualifies for stimulus EIP but I don't know how to file for him?

KrisD15

He can sign a power of attorney (Form 2848) which would allow you to file and sign a 2020 Tax year return for him.

Form 2848

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R

Ricksister

Can I file for my brother?? He's incarcerated and doesn't really know much about taxes or computers

N

npierson777

Yes, you can. Please keep in mind, you won't be able to e-file the return and an inmate can't claim the earned income credit unless she earned income before going to jail and there is no tax credit for incarceration. Sign the inmate's name to the tax form, attach Form 2848 IRS Form 2848 and mail it to the IRS.

M

mrosemissionbeach

Can a person with a power of attorney file an income tax return for an inmate?

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npierson777

Yes, however the return only can be mail to the IRS

J

Josh102282

My son is incarcerated and has been since late 2018. The prisoners have received their stimulus but he has not received any of it. He has asked me to file for it but I don't know where to go or how to do it. Can you please help me with this I know there's a deadline for the stimulus and he's deserving of it.

D

DavidD66

If your son didn't get a first and second Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts, he may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, but must file a 2020 tax return even if not otherwise required to file a tax return.

If you want to file using TurboTax, you will need to create an account for your son. Do not use your personal account to file a return for your son. Go to TurboTax - Create an Account. You will be able to use the Free version of TurboTax Onine.

You will have to fill out all of the personal information, but won't need to report any income or expenses. You can click on Search and type in "Recovery Rebate Credit" and the program will take you to the section you need to fill out.

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