Arizonans have received $5.7 billion in economic impact payments

PHOENIX — The latest Economic Impact Payment figures released by the Internal Revenue Service states more than $5.7 billion has been paid out to Arizonans.

Adults earning up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income who had a valid Social Security number started receiving the one-time $1,200 payment on April 10 as part of an emergency relief package approved by Congress to help people financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Parents also received $500 for each eligible child.

While the report states 3.3 million EIP payments have been given to people in the state so far, not everyone eligible for the funds has received their check.

“We continue to work to deliver stimulus payments to Americans who are entitled to them in record time,” IRS spokesperson David Tucker II said in a press release.

Out of all the states, and foreign addresses, Arizona ranks 15th in the amount of EIP payments issued and 16th in the total amount of EIP payments given out.

The report states 159 million people have received payments worth a total of $266 billion; however, not all of those people are living.

An audit by a government watchdog reported June 25 that nearly 1.1 million coronavirus relief payments totaling around $1.4 billion were sent to dead people.

Survivors were asked by the government to return the money in May, but it’s not clear they have to. Some legal experts have said the government may not have the legal right to its return.

“I think the IRS will do little or nothing to pursue collection of these payments,” Keith Fogg, clinical professor at Harvard and an expert in tax law, said after the report was released. “The cheapest way for the IRS to collect is offset of a future refund. That avenue will not exist for these taxpayers. I don’t think the IRS will take the somewhat difficult steps to pursue the heirs for this amount of money.”

Texas has received the most EIP payments so far according to the report with 12.9 billion, while California has the largest total amount paid out at $28.9 billion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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