DEPARTMENT of Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig on Friday said about $21 million of the Local Economic Impact Payment — otherwise known as the LEIP or second local stimulus — has been disbursed to CNMI taxpayers.
This leaves about $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the second local stimulus.
Atalig said that Finance is now working on the final batch of pending error-free income tax returns.
He noted that the first batch of the second local stimulus amounted to about $18 million, all of which were disbursed to an estimated 23,000 CNMI taxpayers and their dependents.
Those who have zero income, as well as those who are not required to file a tax return — such as those who receive Social Security benefits or disability benefits — are still required to file a tax return to avail themselves of the second round of the local stimulus program.
Each eligible filer, including their eligible independents, are expected to receive $500 each.
The head of the household on the tax return will receive a single prepaid stimulus debit card for their entire household, similar to the first round of the local stimulus program.
Finance orders local stimulus cards on a biweekly basis, with 4,000 additional cards ordered after the first batch was issued, Atalig said.
Those who have yet to receive their stimulus cards may be in the final batch of pending error-free income tax returns, or may have errors on their tax returns that are preventing them from receiving these funds.
Atalig emphasized that in order to avail themselves of the local stimulus, tax filers must have error-free tax returns.
Common errors that have caused delays in disbursement include not reporting their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance income or additional income received, as well as changing dependents on their tax returns.
“It puts an error into their file,” said Atalig, noting that the Division of Revenue and Taxation must verify this information.
The Finance chief added that all who have received the second local stimulus must spend their funds before January 30, 2023.
DRT will continue to process stimulus cards through December 31, 2022.
The second local stimulus is considered taxable under the local tax law, unless excluded by legislation.
For more information, contact the DRT Call Center at (670) 664-1040.
