What If You Didnt Receive Your First Stimulus Check
If you are an eligible individual and you did not receive a stimulus check earlier this year, you will be able to claim it when you file your 2020 taxes in 2021. This is also true if you do not receive your second stimulus check.
If you didnt receive a check, the IRS urges you to review the eligibility criteria when you file your 2020 taxes many people, including recent college graduates, may be eligible to claim it. The stimulus checks will be referred to as the Recovery Rebate Credit on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. You can read more about the Form 1040 for 2020 – including where the RRC can be found – here.
What If You Have Trouble With The Tool
To use the Get My Payment tool, you must first verify your identity by answering security questions. If the information you enter does not match IRS records, you will receive an error message. To avoid this:
- Double-check the information requested
- Make sure what you enter is accurate
- Try entering your street address in a different way and
- Use the US Postal Services ZIP Lookup tool to look up the standard version of your address, and enter it into exactly as it appears on file with the Postal Service.
If your answers do not match the IRS records three times, youll be locked out of Get My Payment for security reasons. If that happens, you must wait 24 hours and try again. If you cant verify your identity, you wont be able to use Get My Payment. Unfortunately, theres no fix for that: the IRS says not to not contact them.
However, if you verified your identity and received Payment Status Not Available, this means that the IRS cannot determine your eligibility for a payment right now. There are several reasons this could happen, including:
- You didnt file either a 2018 or 2019 tax return or
- Your recently filed return has not been fully processed.
Again, the IRS says theres no fix for that and you should not contact them.
What If I Havent Filed A Tax Return
There are millions of low-income people who are not normally required to file tax returns that will have to take some action before receiving their stimulus money.
Generally, these are individuals who did not earn more than $12,200 last year or married couples who did not earn more than $24,400.
But they wont have to file a whole new form, as earlier guidance from the IRS suggested. Instead, it that asks for basic information including names, date of births, and Social Security numbers for the person filing and his or her dependents. They wont have to provide any income information.
The new tool is very straightforward, and likely much faster, than requiring non-filers to fill out and submit a tax form, said Erica York, an economist at the Tax Foundation.
The challenge will be making sure those people are aware of the tool and helping those who dont have access to the Internet at home, she said.
Also Check: Is There A Third Stimulus Check Coming
Wondering Where The Latest Economic Impact Payment Is Heres How To Track Your Stimulus Check And What To Do If You Have Problems
Almost everyone who is eligible has received the first and second rounds of the U.S. governmentâs economic impact payments, or âstimulus funds.â But the third roundâpart of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021âmay provide additional relief to eligible individuals.
The IRS started processing payments in mid-March. Your payment might already be in your account or on its way. But if itâs not, donât worry. The funds could take time to roll out. Hereâs how you can check the status of your payment.
Im Getting Another Message On The Irs Tracker
If youre getting the Need More Information message on the Get My Payment tracker, then the IRS says it hasnt received enough information to send your payment electronically.
But if you havent received your stimulus check by mail, then again, youll need to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit.
If youre getting the message Please Try Again Later, then youve been locked out of your account for 24 hours.
This might have happened because the information you entered didnt match IRS records, or youve tried to access the site more than five times in 24 hours.
Also Check: Do You Have To File 2020 Taxes To Get Stimulus
How To Use Irs ‘get My Payment’
The IRS also updated frequently asked questions Saturday on how to use the “Get My Payment” tool, which requires users to enter their full Social Security number or tax ID number, date of birth, street address and ZIP code.
But before you start entering your information hourly, the IRS says the tool updates once per day, usually overnight and that people should not call the IRS. Our phone assistors don’t have information beyond what’s available on IRS.gov.
The tool will show the status of when a payment has been issued and the payment date for direct deposit or mail, according to the frequently asked questions. Some will get a message that says “Payment Status Not Available.”
“If you get this message, either we have not yet processed your payment, or you are not eligible for a payment,” the IRS said. “We will continue to send the 2021 Economic Impact Payment to eligible individuals throughout 2021.”
And others will get a “Need More Information” message when using the tool if the payment was returned to the IRS because the post office was unable to deliver it for another reason.
If your address has changed the IRS says the easiest way to update is to “file your 2020 tax return with your current address, if you havent already done so. Once we receive your current address, we will reissue your payment.”
Contributing: Jessica Menton, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter:
Stimulus Check Update: Where Is My Payment Heres How To Get An Update
You can check the status of your stimulus payment using the IRS’ Get My Payment tool.
The Internal Revenue Service has sent out about 127 million stimulus payments from the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, but millions of Americans are still waiting.
The agency said people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Railroad Retirement Benefits and dont normally file a tax return will see most of their payments by Wednesday, April 7. It does not include those who receive veteran benefits, which it said could be processed by mid-April.
If youre still waiting for your payment, you should check the IRS Get My Payment tool, which is usually updated once a day, to see the status of your payment. Just note that the IRS said the Get My Payment tool wont be updated for federal beneficiaries until the weekend of April 3 and 4.
When you check the tool, you will get one of three messages.
Payment Status means that your payment has been processed or you are eligible but it has not yet been processed yet. If your payment has been processed, the tool will show a payment date and whether it will be sent by direct deposit or through the mail. If its through the mail, it could be a paper check or a prepaid debit card, the IRS said.
Payment Status Not Available means the agency has not yet processed your payment or you are not eligible for a payment.
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Also Check: How Do You Know If You Qualify For Stimulus Check
Problem #: The Irs Doesnt Have Enough Information To Issue My Stimulus Payment
“Payment Status Not Available” could also mean that the IRS “Needs More Information” to issue your stimulus payment.
If Needs More Information displays in your results, then your payment was returned because the Postal Service was unable to deliver it. The IRS says this means you were issued a check, rather than your payment being direct deposited into your bank account.
Dont worry, this is an easy fix.
In order to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit, you can update information for a bank account, prepaid debit card, or an alternative financial product that can be associated with a routing and account number.
If you do not provide updated account information, the IRS will not be able to reissue your payment.
More details on how to update your information are on file here.
You May See A ‘need More Information’ Message
According to the IRS FAQ, a Need More Information message in the Get My Payment tool means your payment was returned because the US Postal Service wasn’t able to deliver it.
The FAQ says you’ll be able to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit by providing a bank routing and account number, a prepaid debit card or a financial service account that has a routing and account number associated with it. The FAQ says you can also update your mailing address to receive your payment.
Don’t Miss: Update On Next Stimulus Check
Biden Coughs Through Omicron Speech After Exposure To Official With Covid
Once youve entered your information, youll get one of two messages:
- If you receive the message Payment Status,” this means your check has been processed and will include information such as the payment date and how your check was issued.
- If you receive the message Payment Status Not Available, this means you were either not eligible for a payment, or the IRS wasnt able to issue a payment.
If youve been told your payment status isnt available, heres what to do next.
Didn’t Get The First And Second Payments Claim The 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit
If you didn’t get the full amount of the first or second payment you were eligible for, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return even if you aren’t required to file. The third payment will not be used to calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit.
Office Locations
Read Also: Can I Get A Stimulus Check
Here’s How You Can Track Your Incoming Check
People can check the Get My Payment tool on the IRS.gov website to track the status of their payment.
Then you will most likely be brought to this message ” THIS U.S. GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IS FOR AUTHORIZED USE ONLY.”
Once you read the message — hit “OK”
You will be brought to a page titled “GET MY PAYMENT.”
You will need to input the following information: Social Security Number or Individual Tax ID Number , date of birth, street address, and ZIP, or postal code.
The Irs Get My Payment Tool For Stimulus Payments What It Is And How To Use It
More than 169 million payments worth about $400 billion have been sent out by the IRS since Congress passed the American Rescue Plan stimulus relief bill in March.
Find: What Is A Plus-Up Payment and How Can I Get One?
To assist with the rollout of payments, the IRS has set up a Get My Payment tool that allows you to find out when your new economic impact payment is scheduled to be sent or when and how it was sent. The system is updated once a day, usually overnight.
The Get My Payment tool operates like an application for your stimulus payment. You can access the tool on the IRS website. You will need to input your Social Security number, date of birth and address.
Find: How Your Financial Future Will Be Nothing Like Your Dads
If the payment has been scheduled, the screen will show the day the payment is scheduled to be deposited and the last four numbers of the bank account number that will receive the deposit. If you use the tool after a payment has already been deposited, youll see a transaction receipt of sorts showing the day it was deposited and the last four digits of the account number.
Find: The 10 Biggest Financial Struggles Families Face
If you receive a Payment Status Not Available message but are sure youre eligible and have submitted all the information the IRS needs, its likely that the IRS simply hasnt yet processed your payment yet. Once it does, the tool should indicate when your payment will arrive.
More From GOBankingRates
You May Like: Who Qualified For The First Stimulus Check
How Much Will I Get
Individuals are due up to $1,200 and couples will receive up to $2,400 plus $500 per child.
But payments start phasing out for individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than $75,000 and married couples who earn more than $150,000. The amount will then be reduced by $5 for every additional $100 of adjusted gross income.
See how much youre eligible for here.
How Can I Get My Money Faster
The IRS is first sending money to those for whom it has bank account information on file. That might not be you if you havent received a tax refund over the past two years or if you received a refund by a check in the mail, rather than by a direct deposit.
But the Get My Payment tool, expected to roll out this week, will also allow taxpayers to input their bank account information so that they can receive the money electronically rather than by a paper check which could take weeks, or even months.
To do so, a taxpayer will need to submit their adjusted gross income from their most recent tax return, the refund or amount owed that year, as well as the account and routing numbers for their bank account.
However, taxpayers wont be able to update their bank information once the payment is already scheduled for delivery, and it wont allow you to update bank information already on file, the Treasury Department said.
Recommended Reading: Is A 4th Stimulus Check Coming
What If My Payment Status Is Not Available
If you receive this message, then its best to make a Recovery Rebate Credit claim.
Youll also need to file a 2020 tax return, even if youre not required to do so.
A Recovery Rebate Credit calculates the eligibility and amount of your stimulus check based on information from this tax return.
Youll need to fill out the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet in these forms on the IRS website, which will help check if youre eligible for a payment.
The IRS has more information on how to file a tax return electronically on its website.
What To Know About Adding Your Direct Deposit Details
You can’t use the Get My Payment tool to sign up for a new account or correct details about your payment. Even if the IRS is unable to deliver your payment to a bank account and the money is returned to the government, you won’t be able to correct the details online — the IRS says it will send the money again by mail.
The extended tax deadline was May 17. With the agency’s delay in processing tax returns, trying to register for a new direct deposit account with your 2020 tax return won’t get you into the system quickly enough. However, if you haven’t submitted your taxes yet, signing up for a new direct deposit account could still get you IRS money faster in the future, such as tax refunds or the upcoming child tax credit.
Also Check: Who’s Eligible For Stimulus
Wait Times To Speak With A Representative Can Be Long
For example, if you were due a tax refund and elected to have the money directly deposited into a bank account, the irs will put your stimulus money in that The irs has a where’s my refund tool on its website and mobile app, irs2go. The irs portal will allow taxpayers to check the status of their stimulus payments.
Irs Get My Payment Tool
Most people don’t need to do anything to receive their stimulus checks, which pay out up to $1,200 per adult, and $500 per child under age 17. According to the IRS, 130 million stimulus payments were sent out through the program’s first four weeks, and somewhere between 150 million to 170 million payments will be distributed overall. The payment amounts are based on your adjusted gross income, as calculated in your most recent tax return, and the IRS is paying most checks via direct deposit provided that information is already on file.
Yet in this particularly trying economic climate, where millions have lost their jobs, many people were waiting for the IRS to offer a service letting them track their stimulus checks, similar to the tool allowing you to track your tax refund. Some taxpayers are also unsure how or when they will receive their $1,200 checks, or they seek to provide the IRS with updated direct deposit information so that they can get their checks as soon as possible. The Get My Payment application is supposed to address all of these needs.
Also Check: Irs Portal For Second Stimulus Check
What Will The Portal Tell You
The “Get My Payment” tool will tell you:
- Payment date
- Payment method Note: mail means you may be issued an EIP Card or a check
If your payment status is not available, that means the IRS has not yet processed your payment, or you are not eligible for a payment.
If you get a message that says “Need More Information,” that means your payment was returned to the IRS because the post office was unable to deliver it. The IRS said people who got this message will eventually be able to use the tool to provide additional bank account information.