WASHINGTON, DC—As the second round of economic impact payments (EIPs) begins to be distributed, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that it would heed the call of the Ways and Means Committee and reopen the EIP mailbox for congressional offices. In 2020, after congressional offices experienced a high volume of requests from desperate constituents attempting to access their EIPs, the IRS created a dedicated mailbox for offices to have a more direct pathway to receive assistance for constituents from the agency. Although the mailbox was closed at the end of last year, it now will be available once again to field offices’ questions and resolve constituent issues regarding both the initial round of EIPs and the new round authorized in the end-of-year COVID relief package.

Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement regarding the news:

“While the congressional EIP mailbox has not been perfect, it offered much-needed assistance to Americans, and I’m relieved that the IRS has agreed to our request to make the tool available through the end of this filing season to help resolve constituent issues. Our offices have been inundated with requests from constituents who still have unresolved issues from the first round of EIPs, and we anticipate receiving further questions regarding the new, second round of payments. It is welcome news that we will again have access to this tool as we work to resolve our constituents’ EIP issues and ensure all eligible people receive the relief they’re due.”

Last month, Chairman Neal and Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), along with Committee Democrats, requested the IRS keep the EIP mailbox open through the end of the next filing season.