LANSING, Mich. — The IRS says it issued more than 159 million payments in just over two months. 260 billion dollars dispersed via direct deposit, paper check and pre-paid debit cards. Yet, even today, there are countless people in the country, who despite being eligible, believe they've fallen through the cracks.
In New York State Hanna Brandow has no idea why she hasn’t gotten a stimulus payment.
“My sister and I who both have not gotten the check yet. Did our taxes this year and got our returns already. So, it's very strange.”
In California Alexis Lopez is also in limbo.
“For most people it was like this person got it. This person got it and I was like well maybe there's some delay with mine. no big deal.”
In Ohio Karen Melroy is also stuck in in stimulus purgatory. “Received my refund by a direct deposit. so, there's no reason i can think of why i shouldn't have received one.”all of them get the same message when checking on the IRS website.
For Hanna Brandow when she looks onthe IRS website it tells her that there is “no payment status available.” Karen Melroy is in a similar situation “I normally add a few more expletives to mine when I see it but it's something to the effect of payment status not available.”
It turns out they’re not alone. those four words are exasperating countless Americans – otherwise eligible who have not been paid and can’t get answers as to why.
Robert Probasco, the Tax Clinic Director for Texas A&M says that “The IRS obviously was very rushed and even when the government takes a year and a half to do a computer system there are problems with it.”
In May the IRS added 3500 telephone representatives to help with problems but most can only provide general information. Brandow explains that “I found this like nine step guide of how to get a human on the phone and the IRS. i did it twice and hit a dead end.”
When you call the IRS the following message is typically what you will hear. “Thank you for calling the internal revenue office due to COVID-19 or the coronavirus this office is temporarily closed until further notice.”
Because IRS offices remain closed due to the pandemic the agency tells us that call center agents are working from home. that means they don’t have access to secure personal information specific to each case.
Probasco shares that “this was designed poorly obviously because it doesn't tell you which of those things happen and if it is a glitch it doesn't tell you what kind of a glitch.”
The IRS is doing a phased reopening at key processing sites and call centers.
In a statement they say: some employees have returned to work in Kentucky, Texas and Utah.
In careful accordance with state and local guidelines, IRS employees are returning to work in Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan and by the end of June in Indiana, Ohio, California, Oregon and Puerto Rico, but if you can’t your issue resolved by the end of the year - you may have to claim your unpaid stimulus assistance on next year’s return as a credit.
For people like Karen Melroy this is not the answer she wants to hear “that doesn't help me today.” This is a sentiment many share as they struggle to rebound financially from the pandemic.
The agency says for case-specific information the appropriate number to call remains 800-829-1040, otherwise you could call your local IRS office and even set up a face-to-face meeting once they reopen
Want to see more local news ? Visit the FOX47News Website.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android
and
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox.
Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
