Ways To Find The Amount Of Your First And Your Second Stimulus Checks
Hint: If you lost the letter on your payment the IRS sent you, you have options. We’ll tell you what you need to know.
How much stimulus money did I get again?
The first and second stimulus payments still haven’t arrived for some folks. If this is the case for you, you can claim a Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2020 tax return — oh, and don’t worry, the IRS extended the filing deadline. Taxes are now due on May 17, so you — and the IRS — have a bit more time.
If you want to check the amount of your first and second payments — for a jog to your memory, your records or for taxes — you can no longer view it in the Get My Payment tool. But we can help. Here are two ways to find out the amounts of your first two stimulus checks.
Do I Really Need To Hold On To The Letter
You should always save tax return-related documents, says , chief tax information officer at Jackson Hewitt: W2s, interest statements and IRS letters are a good record of your account “in case anything comes along in the next two or three years,” he says.
“It’s always important, but especially important if you’re due more money — particularly if you had a new baby, adopted a child, fostered a child, it’s your year for split shared custody or any number of additional life changes,” Steber told CNET. “All of these situations would lend themselves to an additional payment.”
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Check Status Of Stimulus Check:
Individuals can check the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website to see the status of their stimulus or plus-up payments.
But if youre still missing any of the stimulus checks sent out during the pandemic, the IRS suggests claiming the money on your tax return.
Thanks to a delayed filing deadline of May 17, there is more time than there normally would be.
You still have time This year, the individual income tax filing and payment due date is May 17, 2021. Read more about #TaxDay from #IRS at
IRSnews
The IRS is also offering the plus-up, or supplemental payments, to those who previously received partial stimulus payments but can now demonstrate they were eligible for more. The plus-up payments also ensure that early filers whose 2020 tax returns make them, or their dependents, eligible for stimulus money get their payments.
These plus-up payments could include a situation where a persons income dropped in 2020 compared to 2019, or a person had a new child or dependent on their 2020 tax return, and other situations, the IRS said in a statement announcing the payments.
You may also want to check with your bank or tax preparer, if you havent received your check. Be sure they have your correct address and banking information.
If your information needs updated, contact the IRS and United States Postal Service.
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.
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First Round Of Economic Stimulus Checks: April 2020
The CAREs Act included a provision for a round of stimulus payments eligible tax-paying adults received a check of up to $1,200 while eligible dependents under 16 years of age received $500 each .
The payments were made to everyone earning under the income limits, which were set at Adjusted Gross Income of $75,000 with the stimulus check value reducing in a tapered fashion up to a maximum of $99,000 . The very first stimulus checks were paid into people’s bank accounts over the weekend of the 11 and 12 of April, either via direct deposit into individuals bank accounts, paper checks sent through the post or in some cases, through a prepaid debit card, the Economic Impact Payment Card which were sent out in late May/early June last year.
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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.
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Didn’t Get The Full Third Payment Claim The 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit
You may be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 federal tax return if you didn’t get a third Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount.
In early 2022, we’ll send Letter 6475 to the address we have on file for you confirming the total amount of your third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments you received for tax year 2021. You will need this information to accurately calculate your 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit when you file your 2021 federal tax return in 2022.
You Haven’t Filed Taxes For 2018 Or 2019
In most cases, the IRS determines whether someone is eligible for a stimulus check, and how much they’ll get, based on their most recent tax return â for 2019, or 2018 if the individual hasn’t filed yet this year. The deadline to file federal taxes has been pushed back from April 15 to July 15 this year, but nonetheless it may be in your best interest to file your taxes sooner than later.
People who have already filed their taxes do not have to do anything to get their checks. However, some people are not required to file taxes, and they could miss out on stimulus payments if they do not take action. Low-income earners â with gross income of $12,200 or less â do not need to file federal tax returns. For these people to receive a stimulus payment, they must register at the IRS’s “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” page.
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Use The Irs Get My Payment Tool To Track Stimulus Money
For the third stimulus check: It’s worth visiting the IRS’ online portal designed to track the status of your 2021 payment. Generally, it should tell you when your check will be processed and how you’ll receive it: for example, as a paper check in the mail. If the Get My Payment tool doesn’t give you information you can understand or says your check is on the way and you haven’t received it, you may need to eventually request a payment trace or file for a recovery rebate credit.
For the first or second payment: If you can’t find the letter sent by the IRS, you’ll need to create an online profile with the IRS to see your status. For any problems, you may need to issue a payment trace or file for a recovery rebate credit, even if you don’t normally submit a tax return. Here’s more information about finding the amount of your first and second payments.
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Didnt Get The Full First And Second Payments Claim The 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit
If you didnt get the full amount of the first or second Economic Impact Payments, you may be eligible to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a 2020 tax return. The third Economic Impact Payment will not be used to calculate the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit.
For the latest updates, check IRS.gov/coronavirus.
You Aren’t Eligible For A Stimulus Payment

If you aren’t eligible for a stimulus check , the Get My Payment app won’t necessarily explain that. Instead, you may simply find yourself staring at the words “Payment Status Not Available.” If this is the case, you may want to take a look at your adjusted gross income on your most recent tax return, to see if you’re eligible for a payment or not.
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What If I Didn’t Get The Right Amount
Some people may get their checks quickly, yet discover the payment amount is incorrect that could be due to their dependents or changes in income.
The law provides $1,400 per adult and dependent, as long as the household income falls below the income threshold for eligibility. In the current bill, single people whose adjusted gross income was below $75,000 and married couples with income below $150,000 will receive their full payments, as well as their dependents. Payments decline for earnings above that, cutting off entirely for single people earning $80,000 and $160,000 for married couples.
But some people may not get the right amount, especially if they haven’t yet filed their 2020 tax returns, given that the IRS extended the tax deadline until May 17. For instance, if a family had a baby last year but hasn’t yet filed their 2020 returns, the IRS would base their payments on their 2019 returns which wouldn’t include their new baby. In that case, the family would receive $2,800 for themselves, but not the extra $1,400 for their child.
For instance, the most recent batch of checks issued this week include “plus-up” payments for people who received checks based on their 2019 tax returns but who have since filed their 2020 tax returns and are owed more. The agency said such extra payments could reflect a loss of income in 2020, which could entitle the tax filers to more stimulus money, or if they had a child last year.
You Are Locked Out Of Using Get My Payment
The IRS says that data in Get My Payment is updated only once per day. If you’ve already checked with the app and received a “Payment Status Not Available” message, there is no need to try to use it again on the same day. If you do, you may see a message saying “Please Try Again Later,” and be locked out of using the site for 24 hours.
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What Do I Do If My Payment Was Sent To The Wrong Bank Account
Many taxpayers who used H& R Block, TurboTax or another tax preparation software company have reported issues with receiving their payments. Like with many of the second stimulus checks, the IRS has seemingly sent the funds to the wrong bank accounts.
The IRS has said that if this is the case, the funds will be sent back to the agency and then reissued as either a paper check or debit card and sent to the address the agency has on file for each affected taxpayer. The Get My Payment tool will show the updated information when it’s available.
What Ssi Ssdi And Veteran Beneficiaries Need To Know
The IRS began sending out stimulus checks for Social Security beneficiaries, including those who are part of the SSI and SSDI programs, on April 7. It began sending payments to people who receive veteran benefits and don’t typically file taxes on April 14. If you’re part of one of these groups and haven’t gotten your check yet, it may be on the way soon.
The Social Security Administration has also advised people not to contact the SSA about problems. It’s possible you may need to use one of the strategies above, depending on what the trouble is.
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How Soon After Requesting A Payment Trace Will Your Stimulus Check Arrive
You should get a response from the IRS about six weeks after the agency receives your request for a payment trace, according to its website. But this could be delayed due to limited staffing.
For more, read about a potential fourth stimulus check and what else is in the stimulus package that may help you financially.
Who Is Eligible For The Third Stimulus Check
If youre trying to track your stimulus check, youll first want to know if youre eligible to receive one information that the Get My Payment tool wont explicitly inform you when you go track your check.
One good rule of thumb for determining if you qualify: If you were eligible to receive the full amount before, youll be eligible again. Income requirements for receiving full stimulus checks are the same for both individual and married tax filers, while income information is based on your most recently processed tax return .
If you earned up to $75,000 youre slated to get the full relief check worth $1,400. Married couples will thus receive $2,800 as long as their combined AGI doesnt top $150,000.
But the point at which payments completely phase out for Americans happens sooner on the income scale, a move meant to appease more deficit-minded lawmakers and shrink the size of the overall relief package.
Individuals total payments decrease by $28 per every $100 over the income threshold. Single filers and married couples who make $80,000 and $160,000 or more a year, respectively, wont receive a check at all.
Eligible U.S. adults will see $1,400 per each individual in their household, including adult dependents, such as college students.
If youre ineligible for a stimulus payment but currently out of work, heres how to apply for unemployment benefits.
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What Can The Irs Do For A Missing Stimulus Check
The IRS will do the following to process your claim, according to its website:
- If you didn’t cash the check, the IRS will issue a replacement. If you discover the original check among your belongings, you’re expected to return it as soon as possible.
- If you did cash or deposit the check, expect a claim package from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which will include a copy of the cashed check. Follow the included instructions. The bureau will review your claim and the signature on the canceled check before deciding whether it will issue a replacement. This is presumably to guard against stimulus check fraud.
Can I Track My Payment

The IRS reopened its “Get My Payment” website following the passage of the American Rescue Plan, allowing people to track when they might receive their stimulus checks. The IRS created this portal last year for the $1,200 stimulus checks directed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.
When people check the “Get My Payment” site for the new $1,400 checks, they typically see one of several messages.
First, some people will see that their payment has been processed, along with a payment date and whether the payment will be sent via direct deposit or mail. If a check is sent by mail, the IRS will either send a paper check or a pre-paid debit card.
Others may see a message that they are eligible, but their payment hasn’t been processed and therefore there’s no payment date available.
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How To Track My Stimulus Check
How To Track My Stimulus Check. The money can be used. There is an easily accessible tool that will allow you to safely track your stimulus check within seconds.
Stimulus checks sent to 127m americans: This is how to track your new stimulus payment. Here’s what we know about the payments: Looking for your stimulus check? If you received a $1,200 stimulus check earlier this year, you may assume that you’re getting a second payment from uncle sam. Here’s how to track your stimulus check and what to do if you have problems. There is also a section designed to answer any questions you may have about the stimulus check.
You Get Social Security
Social Security recipients and people receiving Social Security disability benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits are eligible for stimulus checks, and they do not have to file taxes in order to receive a payment. However, if anyone in these groups has a dependent under age 17 and does not file taxes, they should add that information at the IRS’s “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” page in order to get an extra $500 per child.
The first people to get stimulus checks are those who have filed tax returns and have their direct deposit info on file with the IRS. People who receive Social Security or the other benefits mentioned above fall into a second category, and they will receive their payments in the next wave of deposits from the IRS. These people can expect their payments to show up in their bank accounts by the end of April, if not sooner. On the other hand, if federal agencies do not have your bank info on file, your payment will come in the mail as a paper check, and that process could take much longer.
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