2020 Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic G: Correcting issues after the 2020 tax return is filed

A1. Yes, if your 2020 has been processed and you didn't claim the credit on your original 2020 tax return, you must file an Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040-X, to claim the credit. The IRS will not calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for you if you did not enter any amount on your original 2020 tax return.

You can use the Interactive Tax Assistant, Should I File an Amended Return?, to help determine if you should amend your original tax return.

If you must file an amended return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, use the worksheet on page 59 of the 2020 instructions for Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR PDF to determine the amount of your credit. Enter the amount on the Refundable Credits section of the 1040-X and include "Recovery Rebate Credit" in the Explanation of Changes section.

If you filed your 2020 return electronically and it's been processed, you must file an amended return, and you may be able to file Form 1040-X electronically.

If you did not file your 2020 return electronically, you must submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the instructions for preparing and mailing the paper form.

Those filing their Form 1040-X electronically or on paper can use the Where's My Amended Return? online tool to check the status of their amended return.

DO NOT file an amended tax return if you entered an incorrect amount for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return. If you entered an amount on line 30 but made a mistake in calculating the amount, the IRS will calculate the correct amount of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, make the correction to your tax return and continue processing your return. If a correction is needed, there may be a delay in processing your return and the IRS will send you a notice explaining any change made.

To check the status of your refund from your original return, check Where's My Refund?

A2. DO NOT file an amended tax return with the IRS. If you entered an amount on line 30 of your 2020 tax return but made a mistake in calculating the amount, the IRS will calculate the correct amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit, make the correction to your 2020 tax return, and continue processing your return. If a correction is needed, there may be a delay in processing your 2020 return and the IRS will send you a notice explaining any change made.

If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

If the IRS agrees to make a change to the amount of 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit you are owed and it results in a refund, you may check the status of your refund from your original return using Where's My Refund?

If you did not enter an amount on line 30 of your 2020 Form 1040 or 2020 Form 1040-SR, see I'm eligible for a 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit but did not claim it on my 2020 tax return. Do I need to amend my 2020 tax return?

A3. No, the IRS will not reject your tax return if you made an error in calculating your 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit when you filed your 2020 tax return. DO NOT file an amended tax return with the IRS to correct an error you made in calculating your 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit.

If you made a mistake on the line 30 amount, the IRS will calculate the correct amount of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, make the correction to your 2020 tax return and continue processing your return. If a correction is needed, there may be a delay in processing your 2020 return and the IRS will send you a notice explaining any change made.

If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree with the change we made, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

If the IRS agrees to make a change to the amount of 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit you are owed and it results in a refund, you may check the status of your refund from your original return using Where's My Refund?

A4. If you disagree with the IRS calculation, please review the FAQs below prior to contacting the IRS. The FAQs below provide additional information to explain what errors may have occurred and what information you should have available when contacting the IRS.

You may have received a second letter in 2021 from the IRS about the math or clerical error made when computing your 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

Taxpayers who received a math error notice before July 15, 2021 did not receive language advising them to contact the IRS within 60 days if they disagreed with our changes to the return. To ensure taxpayers understand their right to disagree, the IRS issued a supplemental notice describing the cause of the error and providing taxpayers 60 days from the issuance of the new notice to dispute the change made to the return.

No action is needed if you received a prior notice about the error that did not include the 60-day language, contacted the IRS, and the issue was resolved to your satisfaction.

See Understanding Your Letter 6470, which provides information about your appeal rights regarding a change made to the amount of the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return.

A5. If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

A6. If you filed a 2020 return and checked the box stating you can be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, you do not qualify for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. To be eligible for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit you cannot be a dependent of another person.

You do not need to take any action as the notice is informing you that the IRS already adjusted your 2020 tax return and disallowed the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. No further action is needed.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice. If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

A7. If one spouse does not have a Social Security number valid for employment and you file a joint 2020 tax return, your 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit should not include the portion for the spouse who does not have the required Social Security number, unless one of you was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during 2020.

If one of you was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces during 2020 and you were denied the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for the spouse without the required Social Security number, contact the IRS and have a copy of your 2020 military Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, available for further verification. A contact phone number for assistance is on the top right corner of your letter or notice.

If neither you nor your spouse has a Social Security number valid for employment, you are not allowed any 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit. No further action is required.

If your child does not have an SSN valid for employment or an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN), you do not qualify to receive a 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit for the child. However, if a Social Security number valid for employment is issued to your child before the due date of your 2020 tax return (including extensions) or an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) is issued to your child and the other qualifying child requirements are met for the child, contact the IRS with their SSN or ATIN to have the 2020 additional credit issued. A contact phone number for assistance is on the top right corner of your letter or notice.

If you, your spouse, and qualifying children have a Social Security number that is valid for employment and you entered it on your return, compare the number and name entered with what is on the Social Security card. If this information does not match or it was left blank on your 2020 return, the amount associated with that identification number would be denied. If you identify an error in the tax return entry, contact the IRS at the number provided on your notice and have a copy of the Social Security card(s) available. If the information entered on the 2020 tax return matches the Social Security card or you have recently changed your name and did not update it with the Social Security Administration (SSA), please contact the SSA to confirm that the information they have on file is accurate.

If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

A8. If your child has a Social Security number that is valid for employment issued before the due date of your 2020 tax return (including extensions) or your child has an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN), please contact the IRS and have a copy of the Social Security card(s) or the ATIN number available. A contact phone number for assistance is on the top right corner of your letter or notice.

If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

A9. Compare the information you entered on your 2020 tax return for your child against the child's Social Security card. If the name and number entered on the return does not match what is on the card, the credit will be denied for that child. If you identify an error in the tax return entry, contact the IRS at the number provided on your notice and have a copy of the Social Security card(s) available.

If the information entered on the 2020 tax return matches the Social Security card or you have recently changed your child's last name and did not update it with the Social Security Administration (SSA), please contact the SSA prior to contacting the IRS to confirm the information they have on file is accurate.

If you agree with the changes we made, no response is required.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

A 10. In order to be a qualifying child for the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, a child must be under age 17 on December 31, 2020. You do not need to take any action; the IRS has already adjusted your 2020 credit. The notice was to inform you of the change. No further action or calls are necessary.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.

A11. The 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit has the same adjusted gross income limitations as the first and second Economic Impact Payments. Your 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit amount will be reduced if the adjusted gross income amount on line 11 of your 2020 Form 1040 or 2020 Form 1040-SR is more than:

• $150,000 if married and filing a joint return or filing as a qualifying widow(er)
• $112,500 if filing as head of household or
• $75,000 for all others

Your 2020 credit will be reduced by 5% of the amount by which your adjusted gross income exceeds the applicable threshold above. You do not need to take any action; the IRS has already adjusted your credit. The notice was to inform you of the change. No further action or calls are necessary.

If you disagree, you can call us at the toll-free number listed on the top right corner of your notice.