43 minutes ago, flexomike said:

So I guess if you feel this way then Americans abroad should not have to pay taxes either, I got mine, wife got hers, were both happy.

Good for you getting the payment. I am not sure I will because of too many "non-resident" flags.

Interesting point about taxes. I don't pay state. But zero federal? I dunno. I make my money in the States through investing in the US market. So law and order, defense, etc. etc., that keep the USofA safe, keep my investments safe too. So I am happy to chip in with a few tax dollars. And I do appreciate the form 2555 exemption on my non-US earnings. 

The stimulus is specifically to jolt the US economy now. But, honestly, if they give me the money not one penny will be spent in a US business.

So, I am not going to twist myself into a pretzel arguing that I deserve the stimulus payment. I don't. But I'll take it if they send it to me:-)

7 hours ago, soalbundy said:

I'm quite disappointed, taxi drivers getting 1,000 Baht donations instead of returning 100k they found on the back seat of their taxi, there has been a slip up in the PR.

Lordie, you're a nasty little man.

13 hours ago, BritSteve said:

Would I be better off using an agency to handle the paperwork ( and the extra expense) or doing it myself?

I would suggest using an agent the first time just so that nothing goes wrong at a time you probably don't have the experience to figure out what to do. Which is exactly what happened to me a couple of months ago when I did my first retirement extension. Something popped up which the agent figured out how to resolve (though I ended up making an  unplanned trip to my old office). Plus the IO was smiling and cooperative all through (of course, she surely got a few k).

Might be of interest. The Eligibility para at

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center#elig

has changed in the past 24hrs. Last night I copied the following in an earlier post:

Who is eligible?

U.S. residents will receive the Economic Impact Payment of ...

Now it says:

You may be eligible to receive a Payment if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien;
• ...

Not sure what's going on. Maybe they want to make it clear green card holders are included. Maybe they have dropped the residency requirement so all citizens will get the payment. Still fluid because the "will" has changed to "may". Guess we have to wait.

Added: Just scrolled down the IRS page. See the following:

9 hours ago, TikiT said:

Time to start shopping online now for a new laptop and a new tv. 

Make sure to order from Amazon USA you lucky son of a gun. Not Lazada. Uncle Sam needs to be stimulated.

Interesting. Is there a large expat community in India/Goa? I had no idea. I know Goa is a popular tourist destination (particularly for Israelis after their service) but foreign residents?  Would be curious to know the numbers.

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Detailed information here:

https://www.americansabroad.org/news/aca-memo-to-congress-treasury-and-irs-payment-of-2020-recovery-rebates-to-individuals-abroad/

says

“Eligible individual” means any individual other than a nonresident alien individual, an individual treated as a dependent, and an estate or trust.

which is not what the IRS says (U.S. residents will receive ...). I would go by the latter. But let's see what happens. It's early days.

The good lord bless the ACA but I am not sure how they'll argue that Americans abroad deserve a payment that evidently will not be spent in the US.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

GOODBYE.

Please don't go. I am lonely.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Depending on your situation, it may have already been paid to you.

it hasn't last I checked.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Should / schmoud , either expats are getting these payments or not and they are.

Again, I repeat: an expat who passes the "residency" test will/should get it.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Do you think Democrats Abroad

Why do you bring political parties into this? It's the IRS/Treasury making the decision.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Think what you like. Expats are not being excluded. Also you conveniently didn't seem to both to read who is NOT eligible. Expats not mentioned. Social security mentioned separately. Residence not mentioned. Remember -- this was done QUICKLY. I

 

Now, you're being stupid. "Expat" is not a tax status that IRS would specifically include/exclude it. "Resident" is.

And, if you think about it, non-US-residents should not get the check. We aren't going to be spending the money in US shops and restaurants, which is the whole point of the stimulus.

But, hey, I am not going to complain if they want to give me $1200.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Expats are eligible. Many have already received the payments.

Again, the question is of the IRS "residency". E.g., an expat who has a US home address and bank info (and doesn't claim to be abroad 330 days in the 2555, like I do) could very well qualify as a resident.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

https://www.democratsabroad.org/carmelan/dems_abroad_outreach_about_us_govt_coronavirus_aid_for_americans_abroad

I would prefer the horse's mouth = IRS.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No they don't have a U.S. resident requirement. That's been discussed and debunked.

Hmm, from https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center#elig 

Who is eligible?

U.S. residents will receive the Economic Impact Payment of ...

So, the question is how they decide residency.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

But social security with direct deposit.

Which should be good enough. Unless your DD is into a Thai bank. They have a "US resident" eligibility requirement, which is not clear how they decide.

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

the 2018 return had no line for a foreign street address,

It did. Schedule 6.

Added: Just checked. You are right. Schedule 6 only has country/city/zip.

1 minute ago, newnative said:

Yes I do.  But I have direct deposit for my federal tax refund with a USA bank.  

Great, exactly my situation. Thai address on my return but DD/payments from USA based CU.

Added: I also file a 2555 for foreign earned income exclusion claiming to be abroad 330 days. Not sure if this will queer the pitch.

The Home Country forum has a couple of long active threads on this.

1 hour ago, newnative said:

   I just checked my USA bank account and it shows a deposit of $2400--married filing jointly.  I thought the check wouldn't arrive until sometime in May but it is here already.  

Could I ask if you file your return with a Thai home address?

Yo Mods, there are two threads running on this topic. Can we consolidate? It's important, don't want to have to jump from one to the other.

4 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Payment Status Not Available

According to information that we have on file, we cannot determine your eligibility for a payment at this time.

Got that too. But the "Who is eligible?" is worrying:

US residents will receive the ...

I file a return every year (already filed for 2019), the IRS has my DD info but the address on my return is my Thai address (has been for years) and on my 2555 I claim the 330-days-abroad exemption.

So, I am not sure I fall in the "US resident" category. What do you think? Did you get the money despite doubtful US residency?

6 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

I kinda hate to say this, but Prayut and Co seem to have done a pretty good job here with coronavirus.

I think they get credit for following expert medical advice. After all Thailand has a pretty good healthcare system and some smart doctors.

And at least from where I stay in Bkk I see people being pretty scrupulous about masking, social distancing and generally observing the lockdown. And no panic buying and stupid stuff a la the US. So citizens and we expats get credit too.