Americans living abroad qualify for US government’s coronavirus relief - COVID-19

WASHINGTON 27 Mar 2020 — President Donald Trump signed into law Friday afternoon a historic $2 trillion stimulus package as the American public and the US economy fight the devastating spread of Covid-19. Earlier in the week, US Senators and Trump administration officials agreed on the $2 trillion stimulus package in a rush to pass emergency legislation that would provide aid to businesses, workers and a healthcare system slammed by the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. The $2 trillion relief bill, signed into law will send money directly to Americans, greatly expand unemployment coverage and make a number of other changes. Key elements of the package include sending checks directly to individuals and families, a major expansion of unemployment benefits, money for hard-hit hospitals and health care providers, financial assistance for small businesses and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies. Individuals who earn $75,000 in adjusted gross income or less will get direct payments of $1,200 each, with married couples earning up to $150,000 receiving $2,400 - and an additional $500 per each child. The payment scales down by income, phasing out entirely at $99,000 for singles and $198,000 for couples without children.

Federal Stimulus 2020 : U.S Based Taxpayers and American Taxpayers overseas are eligible

Americans living abroad also qualify for a direct cash transfer from the US government under proposed legislation to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, congressional aides told The Times of Israel. The article quoted two congressional staffers who said any American citizen would be eligible for the cash payments under both of those plans, including those living abroad. “Anyone with a tax ID number can get them,” one aide said. Earlier, the American Citizens Abroad had called on Congress, the Treasury and the IRS to include Americans who are resident abroad in any formal efforts to help U.S. citizens who have been affected by the current coronavirus pandemic. The call, which the Washington, D.C.-area-based ACA issued in the form of a three-page letter, reminded Congressional lawmakers as well as Treasury officials of the fact that "Americans abroad are taxed the same as Americans residing in the U.S." – a theme that was quickly picked up by some expat Americans on Twitter and Facebook, who, having spotted the news of the ACA's letter, are evidently preparing to view the provision of coronavirus relief to them as a test of America's citizenship-based tax regime. "Tax filing deadlines for Americans overseas are different in several respects from those applicable to Americans resident in the States. When making changes, great care must be taken in the drafting of the rules; if not, something will 'fall off the table' for Americans abroad, which, unfortunately, has happened in the past." According to the World Bank says there are roughly two million US citizens who live overseas, the Federal Voting Assistance Program says 5.7 million, and a 2020 State Department report estimates there are roughly 9 million.

About the 2020 stimulus

Here are a few official US Government references about the 2020 stimulus Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website on Coronavirus Tax Relief. Make sure you bookmark this link and checkback frequently

IRS FAQ Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers

Text of a Letter from the U.S President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

Tweet from Vice President Mike Pence Today, President @realDonaldTrump signed into the law the #CARESAct which will help small businesses stay open, help workers keep their jobs, and provide relief for distressed industries as our Country faces the threat of the Coronavirus together. pic.twitter.com/oXtg6RqS4o — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) March 27, 2020 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Who is eligible for stimulus checks? US tax residents with social security numbers, residing anywhere in the world, will receive checks depending on their income, which we outline below. Those with ITIN will not be eligible. How much will taxpayers receive? The amount taxpayers will receive today will depend on their 2019 income (if already filed), or 2018 if not. The end amount taxpayers will receive will ultimately depend on their 2020 income. Who is not eligible for stimulus checks? Those without a social security number. Those with ITIN will not be eligible.

Non-Resident Aliens

Households that do not receive money for adult dependents, such as elderly relatives or adult children with disabilities.

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