CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE SLAMS IRS FOR ISSUES DISTRIBUTING $1,200 ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS TO AMERICANS

(Rochester, NY) – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to address and explain their mishandling of the disbursement of economic impact payments as directed in the federal CARES Act. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Rettig, Rep. Morelle highlights recurring errors by the IRS that have resulted in families across America—including hundreds here in Monroe County—being denied their $1,200 direct payments, causing additional undue harm in the middle of a global pandemic.

"It is an unconscionable violation of your agency's responsibility to the American people for the IRS to tell struggling Americans that they must wait another year for this much needed stimulus check," writes Rep. Morelle in the letter. "We request your immediate attention to these issues and call on the IRS to take corrective action to address the lack of transparency in unresolved EIP cases."

Rep. Morelle's letter comes on the heels of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which warned that millions of Americans are in danger of not receiving their economic impact payments due to incomplete or outdated government records. Indeed, Rep. Morelle's office has heard from hundreds of constituents whose payments have been denied, delayed, or whose status remains unresolved, often due to no fault of their own.

As talks continue to deliver another federal stimulus package, likely including additional direct payments to Americans, it is imperative that these issues be resolved immediately.

The full letter, which received bipartisan support, is below.

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