IRS backs down and won’t require Social Security recipients to file tax returns for stimulus checks

People who receive Social Security benefits and who do not submit tax returns will not have to file in order to get a government stimulus check.

The announcement by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday night reverses earlier guidance that said those people would have to file simple returns in order to get paid.

“Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account,” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said in a statement.

The agencies will use information from Social Security beneficiaries’ 1099 documents – Form SSA-1099 or Form RRB-1099 – for those individuals who do not have 2018 or 2019 tax returns on record.

“Recipients will receive these payments as a direct deposit or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits,” the agencies said.