Do new immigrants qualify for a stimulus pay check? Taxes filed as married filed jointly

[Dan91422 4]

Hi all, so in my situation, I as a US citizen filed my 2019 taxes last year as "married filed jointly" with my wife while she was living in her country. The IRS did accepted my taxes but I didn't get a stimulus check last year (probably because I was married to a non-resident/citizen of the US)  nor did she. This year, in January of 2021, my wife emigrated here to the US and we once again filed our taxes as "married filed jointly". This time around, our accountant informed us that because we didn't receive a stimulus check last year, we both should receive the two stimulus checks. 

Do we actually qualify for any stimulus check? Are there any consequences for receiving any stimulus check if we weren't supposed to?  

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Dan91422 said:

Hi all, so in my situation, I as a US citizen filed my 2019 taxes last year as "married filed jointly" with my wife while she was living in her country. The IRS did accepted my taxes but I didn't get a stimulus check last year (probably because I was married to a non-resident/citizen of the US)  nor did she. This year, in January of 2021, my wife emigrated here to the US and we once again filed our taxes as "married filed jointly". This time around, our accountant informed us that because we didn't receive a stimulus check last year, we both should receive the two stimulus checks. 

Do we actually qualify for any stimulus check? Are there any consequences for receiving any stimulus check if we weren't supposed to?  

Your wife has being resident for tax purposes since the first year you filed jointly with her. Since she was abroad, you most likely filed with a ITIN number, that's why you haven't received the first stimulus. If she has a SSN by the time you file taxes, she will be eligible for the first two stimulus on this return, the third one will come either after this one is filed or when 2021 return is filed. You, the USC, are eligible for all 3 as well...

 

[aceegreene 34]

On 4/13/2021 at 8:05 PM, Ayrton said:

Your wife has being resident for tax purposes since the first year you filed jointly with her. Since she was abroad, you most likely filed with a ITIN number, that's why you haven't received the first stimulus. If she has a SSN by the time you file taxes, she will be eligible for the first two stimulus on this return, the third one will come either after this one is filed or when 2021 return is filed. You, the USC, are eligible for all 3 as well...

 

Came here literally for this. And while I did get a similar answer to this before, just wanted to let people know that the IRS is slow (probably because of volume) and getting the stimulus based on the change from ITIN to SSN etc. will take time. My wife and I filed our taxes more than a month ago and they still haven't been processed. Possibly because of my SSN being used for the first time for filing (we also sent a letter/document requesting merging of ITIN with SSN) or possibly because they just want to verify whether I qualify for the stimulus. So yea, just wanted to put that out there as well, in case people start thinking they will receive the stimulus promptly. 

[Dan91422 4]

Thank you very much!

We did get qualified for both stimulus checks according to IRS website (where you can check the status of your tax return/stimulus check being processed). Now, hopefully in a few days, again according to IRS website, we should receive our money. Will keep you up-to-date