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Procedures for nonfilers claiming advance CTC payments

By Dave Strausfeld, J.D.

Please note: This item is from our archives and was published in 2021. It is provided for historical reference. The content may be out of date and links may no longer function.

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Editor: Paul Bonner

In Rev. Proc. 2021-24, the IRS clarified how individuals who are not otherwise required to file 2020 federal income tax returns can claim advance child tax credit (CTC) payments as well as stimulus payments (i.e., third-round economic impact payments, 2020 recovery rebate credit payments, and additional 2020 recovery rebate credit payments).

To process these payments, the IRS needs certain information from these otherwise nonfilers that would ordinarily be provided on their federal tax return. In the revenue procedure, the Service provided two procedures to enable people who would normally be nonfilers to claim these government payments. The first procedure permits them to file simplified returns. The second procedure enables them to file complete returns electronically even if they have zero adjusted gross income (AGI) (something that otherwise might pose difficulty because of, for instance, return processing parameters that do not allow for zero AGI entries).

Simplified returns: The procedure to file a simplified return involves filling in only certain lines on a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (or Form1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors, or Form 1040-NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return), including basic identifying information and information about dependents. If filing the form on paper, the individual must indicate “Rev. Proc. 2021-24” above the printed material at the top of page 1.

E–filing with zero AGI: Individuals may prefer to complete a return electronically if they have zero AGI for 2020 and their tax return preparation software does not permit them to use the simplified procedure. In addition to all other information required on Form 1040 (or Form 1040-SR or Form 1040-NR), taxpayers should enter:

  • $1 as taxable interest on line 2b;
  • $1 as total income (or total effectively connected income for Form 1040-NR filers) on line 9;
  • $1 as AGI on line 11; and
  • $1 as itemized deductions on lines 7 and 8 of Schedule A (Form 1040-NR) and line 12 of Form 1040-NR (Form 1040-NR filers only).

These special procedures do not apply to residents of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The IRS stressed that individuals who have already filed a 2020 federal income tax return do not need to file any additional forms or otherwise contact the IRS to receive advance CTC payments for each eligible qualifying child shown on that return (or to claim or receive a stimulus payment).

Likewise, individuals who filed a 2019 federal income tax return (or successfully used the “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” tool in 2020) do not need to file any additional forms or otherwise contact the IRS to receive an advance CTC payment in 2021 for their children who qualified for the CTC on their 2020 return (or to receive a third-round stimulus payment).