Joel A. Lee, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, provides the general public with this update of the status of the Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), commonly referred to as the stimulus checks, provided for under the CARES Act, that was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Bureau will be using the 2018 tax returns as the basis
for the payment of these checks.
As soon as discussions began about the possibility of payments to the residents of the Virgin Islands, the Bureau made contact with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to initiate discussions about the process that will be followed. The Bureau, along with representatives from the other territories, have had weekly meetings with IRS staff, to determine what data, information, and documentation are needed.
On April 2, 2020, the Bureau submitted its draft plan to the IRS. The plan is being reviewed by IRS staff, and once approved, the draft will be sent to the Treasury for final processing.
On Sunday, April 26th, based on the data submitted by the Bureau, the Treasury Department submitted its recommendation that the cost of the Economic Impact Payments to the territory’s eligible residents is $84.7 Million dollars. Within 24 hours of receiving the estimate,
the Bureau accepted the Treasury’s recommended estimated cost. Treasury Department will advance the funds in order to pay the stimulus checks. The Bureau stands ready to process the payments once the plan is approved.
Director Lee has reached out to Delegate Stacy Plaskett’s office to update her on the status of this process.
Taxpayers who have not filed their 2018 returns with the Bureau are asked to do so as soon as possible in order to receive the economic impact payments.