Update: President Trump has signed a $2 trillion economic stimulus package that would give Americans $1,200 direct checks, and $500 to children. Click here to read the latest updates on the direct checks, and here for more information on the new tax deadline.
Americans may receive direct checks from the government over the next two weeks and will have an extra 90 days to pay their taxes, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced at a Tuesday press conference.
“Americans need cash now,” Mnuchin said. While he did not specify a figure, $1,000 is one possibility — a day prior, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney had proposed giving each American that amount.
The concept of the government giving Americans a set amount of money, or a universal basic income, has gained traction in Silicon Valley and was the cornerstone of Democratic candidate Andrew Yang’s presidential campaign.
There will also likely be an income cap on who would get government assistance.
“I think it’s clear we don’t need to send people who make $1 million a year checks,” Mnuchin said.
As businesses shut down and employees are laid off amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Trump administration has proposed a $1 trillion package of measures designed to help people’s finances and the economy.
Along with the direct checks, Americans will also get a three-month tax extension.
If you defer payments on your income taxes for up to 90 days after the April 15 filing deadline, any interest or penalties will be waived. The new deadline will apply to up to $1 million in payments for individuals and up to $10 million for corporations.
However, Mnuchin suggested that Americans should stick to the original deadline.
“We encourage those Americans who can file their taxes to continue to file their taxes on April 15, because for many Americans, you will get tax refunds,” Mnuchin said.
Last year, of the tax returns processed, more than 73% of Americans received refunds, with the average amount totaling $2,725.
Mnuchin added that the $1 million tax limit was selected to take into account small and “pass-through” businesses. Many small companies organize as pass-throughs, which are companies that pay taxes based on their owner’s personal income, rather than the corporate tax rate.
Mnuchin also said that the deferrals would inject $300 billion into the economy.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
