Last updated: 4/13/2020

Additional COVID-19 response topics

TaxAct Stimulus Registration | COVID-19 and your Taxes page | COVID-19 Response: IRS Extends Time to File and Pay Tax Bill | COVID-19 Response: State Deadlines Extended | Everything You Need to Know About the Stimulus Payments | IRS Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers | IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief page | CARES Act Full Text

What is the TaxAct Stimulus Registration?

To help prevent fraud, the IRS is requiring everyone who receives a stimulus payment to file a federal tax return. If you are one of the estimated 14 million who wouldn't need to file otherwise, you can use the TaxAct Free Federal product to complete the required Stimulus Registration.

Only those who have not filed a return need to complete the registration. If you already filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 (or plan to), or if you received Social Security benefits, the IRS has your information and you don't need to do anything else.

If you have already filed a return in 2018 or 2019 but didn't include bank account information, or if you want to change your bank account information, do not file a Stimulus Registration return. The IRS is working on a website to help those who have already filed manage bank account information. Watch for updates on this page.

To complete and file a TaxAct Stimulus Registration return, follow the steps below:

1. Create a TaxAct account (if you already have one, skip to step 2).
   • Visit TaxAct.com.
   • Click Create a new one next to "Don't have an account?" at the bottom of the screen.
   • Follow the prompts to complete the account creation process.
2. Sign in to your TaxAct account.
   • Visit TaxAct.com/auth.
   • Enter the username and password you chose in the account creation step.
3. Click Get Started.
4. On the product selection screen, click File Free in the Free column.
5. Enter Basic Information, including name, address, filing status, and dependent information.
   • Click Personal Info in the Navigation Bar (left column)
   • Continue through all Basic Info screens. When you reach the screen titled Let's review your information, you have completed the Basic Info section.
6. Enter $1 of interest income (it's ok - the IRS knows why you're doing this).
   • Click Federal.
   • Click Income.
   • Click Review taxable interest income.
   • Click + Add Form 1099-INT.
   • Click Quick Entry.
   • Enter $1 in Box 1 – Interest income. Close the window.
7. Enter and verify bank account information (complete all steps). Your stimulus payment will be direct deposited into your verified bank account.
   • Click Federal.
   • Click Miscellaneous.
   • Click Review bank account information.
   • Click + Add Bank Account.
   • Enter bank name, routing number, account number and type of account, click Continue.
   • On the screen titled Verify that your bank account information is correct, double check your bank account information entries. If correct, check the box.
     Important: If you do NOT check the box, no bank account information will be sent, and you will receive your stimulus payment as a check from the IRS.
8. Delete state return (if you have one).
   • Click State.
   • Click Continue.
   • Click Delete State.
9. File your return.
   • Click Filing
   • During the filing steps, choose E-File.
   • On the screen titled We recommend using your 2018 Adjusted Gross Income to verify your identity, choose the option that you didn’t file a 2018 return. Do the same on the next screen for your spouse, if necessary.
   • On the screen titled Incomplete Health Insurance, click No.
   • Continue through the filing screens until you see the Submit E-file button.

The IRS will email you when your return is accepted and will mail a letter once your payment is direct deposited into your account.