There’s A Glitch With Your Bank Tax Prep Software Or The Irs
This explanation may be the most frustrating of all for people wondering where the heck their stimulus checks are. But a mistake made by your bank, the IRS, or the tax-prep software you used to file returns could screw up your stimulus payment.
As the Washington Post reported, the stimulus payments for millions of taxpayers may be delayed because of a glitch with tax-prep software firms, such as TurboTax, H& R Block, and Jackson Hewitt. The IRS might not have direct deposit information for you if you used one of these services and received an advance on your tax refund, or if you paid for the service by deducting the fee from your tax refund. And if the IRS doesn’t have your direct deposit info, your stimulus check will be delayed. If you think this situation applies to you, use the IRS Get My Payment app to provide the agency with your direct deposit details.
Who Is Eligible For A Stimulus Check
The vast majority of Michigan residents are eligible to receive a stimulus check from the federal government this year. Even if you have no income, you are still eligible, but need to take action to receive your stimulus payment. This includes individuals with low or no earnings who normally don’t file taxes. Every American adult earning less than $75,000 is eligible for a stimulus check from the federal government this year. While this site is geared toward Michigan residents, the information is applicable nationwide.If you still have questions about your stimulus check after reviewing this website, call the IRS at or, United Way at .
After you sign up, make sure to add your account information on the IRS website. If you dont want to sign up for a bank account, you can also link to your prepaid debit card instead.You can also receive your funds through the Cash App, by providing the IRS with the routing and account numbers connected to your Cash App. You can download the Cash App or locate your Cash App account information here.
What if I havent filed taxes?
What if I dont qualify – where else can I get help?
If you dont qualify for the stimulus payment, we recommend reaching out to Michigan 2-1-1. They can connect you to resources in your community.
Will my payment be reduced or offset if I owe tax, have a payment agreement with the IRS, owe other Federal or State debt, or owe other debt collectors?
First And Second Stimulus Check
You will need to file a tax return for Tax Year 2020 . The deadline to file your taxes this year was May 17, 2021. The tax filing extension deadline is October 15, 2021.
If you missed the filing deadline, you can still file your tax return to get your first and second stimulus checks. If you dont owe taxes, there is no penalty for filing late. If you owe taxes, you may be subject to penalties and fines for not filing or not paying taxes. The government may reduce your tax refund to pay for any taxes you owe and other federal and state debts.
To learn more about your options if you think you owe taxes, read Filing Past Due Tax Returns and What to Do if I Owe Taxes but Cant Pay Them.
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When Will I Get The Recovery Rebate Credit
You will most likely get the Recovery Rebate Credit as part of your tax refunds. If you electronically file your tax return, you will likely receive your refund within 3 weeks. If you mail your return, it can take at least 8 weeks to receive your refund.
Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit will not delay your tax refund. However, if you dont claim the correct amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit, your refund may be delayed while the IRS corrects the error on your return. The IRS will send you a notice of any changes made to your return.
You can check on the status of your refund using the IRS Check My Refund Status tool.
Do College Students And Adult Dependents Qualify For Stimulus Payments

Yes. Adult dependents, including college students and disabled adults, may receive up to $1,400. But their eligibility for payment and the amount theyll receive will depend on the adjusted gross income of the person who claims them on their taxes. See the question above for income limits and phase-out details.
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When Should I Expect My Payment
As of this writing, the IRS had distributed nearly 80 percent of payments. After Friday, January 15th, there will be no more payments for this round.
The IRS is only able to distribute payments to people already in their system who they define as eligible. But part of that eligibility is based on how you filed 2019 taxes. If your status has changed, you may be owed a stimulus payment that you wont see until you file your 2020 taxes. More on that in a bit.
Tip: Did you know you can sign up to receive an email every day letting you know what mail is on the way with Informed Delivery® by USPS®?
Tip: If you receive veterans benefits or Social Security payments on your Direct Express card, you can also check the status of your payment here and learn more about receiving your payments.
Can Homeless People Get A Stimulus Check
Yes, they can get a stimulus payment. The only way to get a payment is to file a tax return with the IRS. You can do this for free. If you dont have a fixed address and you dont have a bank account, check with a local community or religious organization or with a homeless shelter to see if you have options for getting your mail from the IRS delivered there.
Keep in mind that it may take some time for the IRS to process your tax return and your stimulus payment.
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Get My Payment Says Payment Issued But I Haven’t Received It
The IRS says that it may take three to four weeks to receive a check after it’s mailed. If it has been weeks since the Get My Payment tool says the payment was mailed, and you haven’t received it, you can request a payment trace. The IRS will research what happened to your check if the check wasn’t cashed, you will need to claim the “Recovery Rebate Credit” on your next tax return. If the IRS finds that the check was cashed, you’ll receive a claim package from the Treasury Department with a copy of the cashed check and instructions on filing a claim.
Similarly, if the Get My Payment tool says your payment was direct-deposited, but the money doesn’t show in your bank account after five days, first check with your bank. If the bank says it hasn’t received a payment, you can request a payment trace.
To request a payment trace, call 800-919-9835 or fill out IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.
Calculate The Total Of Your Household’s ‘$600’ Stimulus Check
To calculate how much you should get in your second stimulus payment, you’ll need to enter:
- Your adjusted gross income, or AGI, from your 2019 federal tax return. Find that figure on line 8b of the 2019 1040 federal tax form.
- The number of child dependents age 16 and younger that you claim. Remember, a single taxpayer has no dependents, and a head of household does not file jointly with a spouse and claims at least one dependent.
CNET’s stimulus calculator follows the same formula the IRS uses to tabulate your household’s stimulus payment. The result should be considered an estimate, not a guarantee of the IRS’ final check to you. This calculator tool will not store or share your personal information.
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Did Not File In 2018 Or 2019
Another reason why you havent received your stimulus check is because you did not file your taxes in 2018 or 2019. If you did file in 2018 and are not planning on filing in 2019, then the IRS needs updated information.
However, if you did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, the IRS developed a web page where you can enter in information to make sure you receive your stimulus check.
Please note: If you receive disability, social security, railroad retiree or survivor benefits, the IRS will be sending you a check. You do not need to enter in your information on the web page or take action, as checks will be issued soon.
Q How Much Will My Third Stimulus Check Be For
A. Your third stimulus check depends on your 2020 or 2019 income .
Qualifying group | |
An AGI of $150,500 or less | An AGI $160,000 or more |
Dependents of all ages: $1,400 | $1,400 apiece, no cap — but only if caretakers make under the above limits |
* This framework by the IRS was designed for taxpayers who are living and working in the U.S., so expats should ensure theyre looking at their AGI and not their gross income when determining their eligibility, especially if theyre claiming the foreign earned income exclusion. |
Additional Payments: If your third stimulus payment is based on their 2019 return and your 2020 return makes you eligible for a larger payment, the IRS will redetermine your eligibility and issue a supplementary payment later this summer.
You can estimate your own payment amount with H& R Blocks Stimulus Check Calculator.
Q. Will I have to pay back my stimulus check?
A. No, you will not have to pay back any amount of your Recovery Rebate Credit, even if you experience a pay hike in 2021.
Q. Will this round of stimulus checks affect my tax return this year?
Q. Will I owe tax on this third stimulus check in 2022 or have to pay it back?
A. No, the third stimulus payment is considered a 2021 tax credit , not income, so you will not need to pay taxes on it or pay it back.
Q. Do I need to sign up for the third stimulus check it or sign off on it?
Q. If I live abroad, when will I get my third stimulus check if I qualify?
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How To Use The Irs Where’s My Refund Tool
To check the status of your 2021 income tax refund using the IRS tracker tools, you’ll need to provide some personal information: your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number your filing status and your refund amount in whole dollars, which you can find on your tax return. Make sure it’s been at least 24 hours before you start tracking your refund.
Using the IRS tool Where’s My Refund?, go to the Get Refund Status page, enter your personal data, then press Submit. If you entered your information correctly, you’ll be taken to a page that shows your refund status. If not, you may be asked to verify your personal tax data and try again. If all the information looks correct, you’ll need to enter the date you filed your taxes, along with whether you filed electronically or on paper.
The IRS also has a mobile app called IRS2Go that checks your tax refund status. It’s available in English and Spanish. You’ll be able to see if your return has been received, approved and sent. In order to log in, you’ll need your Social Security number, filing status and expected refund amount. The IRS updates the data in this tool overnight, so if you don’t see a status change after 24 hours or more, check back the following day. Once your return and refund are approved, you’ll receive a personalized date by which to expect your money.
You can check on your refund using the IRS2Go mobile app.
Advance Child Tax Credit

Even if you dont pay any taxes, you may qualify for a refund of the CTC.
The CTC was expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for tax year 2021 only. If you are eligible, you should have begun receiving advance Child Tax Credit payments on July 15. The payments will continue monthly through December 2021. Under ARPA, families are eligible to receive:
- Up to $3,000 per qualifying child between ages 6 and 17
- Up to $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6
The Internal Revenue Service began sending out letters in early June to more than 36 million families who may be eligible for the monthly payments. Most families do not need to do anything to get their payments, as long as theyve filed their 2020 or 2019 tax return. Learn more about the letter and how it can help you determine your eligibility.
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Amount And Status Of Your Payment
To find the amount of the third payment, create or view your online account or refer to IRS Notice 1444-C, which we mailed after sending the payment.
If you are sent a plus-up Economic Impact Payment after your 2020 tax return is processed:
- The amount of your initial third payment will no longer show in your online account. You will only see the amount of your plus-up payment.
- The status of your initial third payment will no longer show in Get My Payment. You will only see the status of your plus-up payment.
How Do I Claim My Stimulus Payment When I File My Taxes
So if youve moved, changed banks, or received the message Payment Status #2 Not Available with the IRS tool or if you havent received your stimulus payment by January 15th dont worry. You can still receive it once you file your taxes.
Note, too, that if your tax situation has changed since you last filed in 2019, you must file to get any additional stimulus that is owed to you. Here are a few reasons this might apply to you:
- You had a baby in 2020 and now qualify for an additional $600 based on this dependent
- You made less money in 2020 than 2019, so you now qualify for the stimulus based on your 2020 income
One last important thing to know: if you are also claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit , your entire refund, including your stimulus payment, will be delayed until at least March. But you should file anyway there is a lot of money on the table!
Well share more news soon about other important updates you should know about from the stimulus bill . In the meantime, with tax season quickly approaching, be sure to get proactive about stimulus #2.
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Child Tax Credit: Will You Get An $1800 Payment With Your Refund
The last expanded credit payment is coming soon, giving parents the rest of their money.
Advance payments have ended, but half of the expanded child tax credit remains to be claimed.
More child tax credit money is coming to parents when they submit their 2021 tax returns to the IRS. The final enhanced payment — including any money you haven’t yet received — will arrive with your tax refund. That could be at least half if you opted out of advance payments or had a new baby later in 2021.
To make sure you get the rest of your money, keep track of Letter 6419 from the IRS. It contains details about your child tax credit status that you’ll need for your taxes. That IRS letter will tell you how much money you received in 2021 and the number of qualifying dependents used to calculate payments. However, make sure all the information on the letter is accurate before filing your taxes, otherwise you could risk delaying your tax refund.
We’ll explain the latest on the child tax credit and what to expect when you’re ready to file your taxes this year. Also, here’s how to file your 2021 tax return for free, 13 tax credits and deductions you might not know about, the best tax software for 2022 and why you might want to pay your taxes with a credit card. This story is updated regularly.
Did You Get The Right Stimulus Check Amount You Need To Know Before Tax Season Begins
If you didn’t receive the correct amount of your up-to-$600 per person stimulus payment, you can claim the difference with the IRS. Our calculator can help you estimate the amount you should’ve received, so you can go from there.
If you got your second stimulus check already, check to make sure the numbers line up with your situation.
While the deadline is in the rearview mirror for the IRS to send out second stimulus checks for up to $600 per person , it’s not done issuing money quite yet. Fortunately, you’ll be able to correct any errors, including checks going to temporary accounts instead of to real people, missing money for dependents or absent payments for up to 8 million tax nonfilers, when the IRS officially begins processing 2020 taxes on Feb. 12.
With the IRS providing a way to claim any missing money when filing your 2020 tax return, it’s worth double-checking your estimated total here, to make sure the amount you actually received with your second check lines up with this stimulus calculator, which uses the same formula taken from the December 2020 bill to calculate your total. Note, however, that there may be other qualification factors that the IRS uses to determine your actual sum.
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