WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (D-GA) urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to promptly address the myriad issues regarding economic impact payments (EIPs) and to ensure Americans receive their full EIPs in a timely manner. Neal and Lewis outlined concerns ranging from missing EIPs to payment amounts that are different than what recipients expected. The lawmakers have also received reports that the IRS’s typical customer service channels are largely unresponsive and that constituents cannot receive proper answers to their questions from the IRS.
“Since the IRS began issuing EIPs, congressional offices have been inundated with inquiries from constituents. Despite the Department of the Treasury’s announcement that payments have been sent ‘to all eligible Americans for whom the IRS has the necessary information to make a payment,’ congressional offices are hearing from countless Americans who bring this claim into question," Neal and Lewis wrote. “Those who received a portion of their EIPs have a wide range of questions including why their payment amount is different than what they expected, why they were not paid for their dependents, and why their payments were offset incorrectly. These individuals are desperate to receive full payment as soon as possible, and unfortunately, are coming to us with unique questions that only the IRS can answer."
The Chairmen continued: “Americans still awaiting their EIPs rightfully are frustrated that they have not received any of the emergency assistance they were promised…Most cannot get an explanation from the IRS as to why they have not received their EIPs or information on when they can expect payment."
Neal and Lewis urged the IRS to take all necessary steps to ensure that Americans will not have to wait until 2021 to receive their full EIP amounts. “With a record number of Americans newly unemployed or facing financial insecurity, it would be irresponsible to further delay emergency assistance that Americans desperately need now."
The Chairmen also reiterated their request from April 30, 2020 and asked the IRS to reschedule its public briefing on EIPs so Americans can hear directly from the agency.
