If Your Third Stimulus Amount Is Less Than Expected
The IRS isn’t particularly big on communicating how much money it calculates for your stimulus check. You won’t find that figure in the agency’s online tracking tool, but you will see it in the confirmation letter you’ll receive in the mail.
So what happens if you use our stimulus check calculator and notice the numbers seem way off, or the IRS letter quotes an amount you didn’t receive? Start by triple-checking your qualifications to make sure you’re eligible for the total you expect. Remember the IRS is automatically sending plus-up payments after the agency receives your 2020 tax return. If you had a baby or otherwise added a dependent in 2020, you won’t need to file an amended tax form to claim the supplement.
The IRS could open up claims for missing stimulus money before its Dec. 31 deadline to stop sending checks. If not, you might have to wait until you file your 2021 taxes in 2022 to claim it — even if you’re a nonfiler who isn’t typically required to file taxes.
What If My Mailing Address Changed Since I Received My Previous Stimulus Checks How Will I Get My Third Stimulus Check
If you are expecting to receive your third stimulus check by mail, it will be mailed to the last address you filed with the IRS. If your address has changed since then, there are different options you can take to make sure your stimulus check gets to you:
Option 1: File your 2020 federal tax return to update your address. If you havent filed your 2020 tax return yet, this is an easy way to update your address. File a tax return with your current address and your payment will be sent through the mail once the IRS receives your updated address.
Option 2: Provide your banking information in the IRS Get My Payment tool. If the post office was unable to deliver your stimulus check, it will be returned to the IRS. Two to three weeks after the payment has been issued, Get My Payment will display the message Need More Information. You will have the option to have your payment reissued as a direct deposit by providing your banking information.
If you dont provide your banking information, the IRS will mail your payment once your address is updated.
Option 3: Notify the IRS that your address has changed by telephone, an IRS form, or a written statement. It can take 4-6 weeks for the IRS to process your request.
Timing Of Third Stimulus Checks
Question: When will I get my third stimulus check?
Answer: Millions of Americans have already received their third stimulus check. And the IRS will be sending out more over the next several weeks. So, if you haven’t received your payment yet , it should arrive relatively soon.
How long it will take to send all payments is not known yet. The IRS has a lot on its plate right now. We’re in the middle of tax return filing season, so the IRS is already busy processing tax returns. The tax agency also has to send refunds for people who reported unemployment compensation on their 2020 return and come up with a way to send periodic child tax credit payments later this year. All of this could very well slow down the processing and delivery of third-round stimulus checks.
If the IRS already has your bank account information either from a recent tax payment that you made, a tax refund it sent you, or some other source then expect to get your third stimulus check faster. That’s because the IRS will be able to directly deposit the payment into your bank account. The IRS can also make a third stimulus payment to a Direct Express debit card account, a U.S. Debit Card account, or other Treasury-sponsored account. Otherwise, you’ll get a paper check in the mail.
If you already have a prepaid debit card from the IRS , you’ll get a new card if the IRS decides to send your third stimulus payment to you in that form.
Read Also: I Did Not Get Stimulus Check
Which Of My Dependents Qualify For The Third Stimulus Check
For the third stimulus check, all your dependents qualify, regardless of age. This means that for each child or adult dependent you have, you can claim an additional $1,400.
This is different from the first and second stimulus checks, which only allowed child dependents to get the additional payment.
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You Didnt Taxes File Taxes Last Year Or The Year Before
Not everyone is required to file federal income taxes every year. For example, if someone brings in less than $12,400 a year, doesnt have additional self-employment income, is single and under age 65, they didn’t have to file a tax return for 2020.
But if you hadnt gotten yourself onto the IRS’ books recently, and youre not a Social Security or railroad retirement beneficiary, the tax agency didn’t have a record of your stimulus check eligibility.
You can use a reliable tax software program to get yourself on the IRS’ radar. When you’ve got money coming, thats not a bad place to be.
People Who Don’t File A Tax Return
Question: What if I don’t file a 2019 or 2020 tax return?
Answer: Some people don’t file a tax return because their income doesn’t reach the filing requirement threshold. If that’s the case, the IRS will send a third stimulus check based on whatever information, if any, is available to it. That information potentially could come from the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, or Veterans Administration if you’re currently receiving benefits from one of those federal agencies. If that’s the case, you’ll generally receive your third stimulus payment the same way that you get your regular benefits. If you supplied the IRS information last year through its online Non-Filers tool or by submitting a special simplified tax return, the tax agency can use that information, too.
Some people who receive a third stimulus check based on information from the SSA, RRB, or VA may still want to file a 2020 tax return even if they aren’t required to file to get an additional payment for a spouse or dependent.
Read Also: Whos Getting A Second Stimulus Check
Who Qualifies For A $1400 Direct Payment
Unlike previous rounds of payments, eligibility for the new $1,400 checks may be determined based on either 2019 or 2020 tax returns, depending on whether youve filed yet for 2020 and whether the IRS has processed your return. In general, the federal government will use the most recent income information it has on file to determine eligibility.
Heres whos eligible for a payment:
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Where Is My Third Stimulus Check
You can track the status of your third stimulus check by using the IRS Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish. You can see whether your third stimulus check has been issued and whether your payment type is direct deposit or mail.
When you use the IRS Get My Payment tool, you will get one of the following messages:
Payment Status, which means:
- A payment has been processed. You will be shown a payment date and whether the payment type is direct deposit or mail or
- Youre eligible, but a payment has not been processed and a payment date is not available.
Payment Status Not Available, which means:
- Your payment has not been processed or
- Youre not eligible for a payment.
Need More Information, which means:
- Your payment was returned to the IRS because the post office was unable to deliver it. If this message is displayed, you will have a chance to enter your banking information and receive your payment as a direct deposit. Otherwise, you will need to update your address before the IRS can send you your payment.
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More Adults Could Qualify For Checks
The biggest difference in the latest round of stimulus checks is the change in dependent eligibility. Under the law, dependents stand to receive $1,400 each, which is more than twice the amount they qualified for in previous rounds. That means an eligible family of four would receive $5,600.
And, unlike the previous two rounds, dependents over age 16 would be eligible for aid. That means parents or caretakers who claim a dependent on their taxes who is older than 16 would receive a check for $1,400 per dependent.
A previous report from the American Enterprise Institute estimates that as many as 26 million more people will now be eligible for a payment because of the change in dependent eligibility.
Use the calculator below to calculate how much stimulus money you could be eligible for.
Will The Irs Reload A Prior Pre
Some people who received one or both of their first two stimulus payments on a pre-paid debit card may wonder if the IRS will reload that card with the $1,400 for the latest round of payments. The answer is no, the IRS says.
If the IRS now has bank account information for you, it will send the money via direct deposit. If not, it will either issue a check or a pre-paid debit card, but the latter will come in the form of a new card, the tax agency said.
People should look for a white envelope with the return address “Economic Impact Payment Card” accompanied by a U.S. Treasury Department seal. The card says “Visa” on the front, and the issuing bank, MetaBank, on the back.
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Tips For Individuals During The Coronavirus Pandemic
- If you dont need to use your stimulus check for anything urgent, consider investing or saving the money. A financial advisor can help you get started if you need help managing your money or investments. SmartAssets free tool can match you with financial advisors in your area in just five minutes. Get started now.
- If you are struggling to keep up with loan or credit card payments, you can take steps to protect your credit score and speak with your bank directly to see whether you can defer loan payments or waive certain fees.
- If you can afford it, investing in index funds during a recession is a safe option. But if youre looking for a slightly more aggressive approach, check out some free investment classes to learn more.
When The Stimulus Checks Will Stop Being Issued
Most of the third stimulus check payments have gone out from the IRS and US Department of the Treasury, based on the information the IRS has on hand to determine payment amounts. The , however, gives these federal agencies until Dec. 31, 2021, to send out all the third checks. That gives the IRS room to process 2020 tax returns and square up payments for those who are owed plus-up amounts, folks who filed for a 2020 tax extension and other groups, like people who moved or don’t have a fixed address .
Millions could end up receiving a smaller stimulus check than they’re owed.
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How To Track Your Stimulus Check Online
With the IRS Get My Payment tool, you can get a daily update on your payment status. The online app can also alert you with a message if there’s a problem with your payment that you may need to address. Another option is to create an online account with the IRS, if you haven’t already.
If you get sent a plus-up payment after your 2020 tax return is processed, the amount of your third payment will no longer show up in the tool, according to the IRS. In that case you will only see the status of your plus-up payment.
If you expect your payment to come in the mail, you can use a free tool from the US Postal Service to track your mailed stimulus payment.
What Could Cause Your Payment Group To Change
With the second round of stimulus payments, the IRS told CNET that people who received an EIP card or a physical check the first time would receive the second round via a different payment method.
Even though you don’t have a say in how you receive your payment, you can sign up for a direct deposit with the IRS when submitting your annual tax returns which may, in turn, work as a speeding up process for your stimulus payment. What could act as a delaying factor in receiving your stimulus check is if you are a part of the Social Security beneficiaries which could potentially delay and cause issues in receiving your check.
Also Check: How To Apply For Inmate Stimulus Check
Who Qualifies For Stimulus Checks
U.S. citizens or permanent residents are generally eligible for the full amount provided they are not dependent on another taxpayer and have a valid Social Security number if their adjusted gross incomes dont exceed certain amounts. Those levels differ somewhat from the first two checks, so not everyone who qualified for those them will get the third one.
The eligibility amounts are as follows:
- $75,000 for individuals
- $112,500 for those filing as head of household
- $150,000 for married couples who file a joint return, or those filing as a qualifying widow or widower
Once that threshold is met, taxpayers may still be eligible to receive reduced amounts. But the stimulus checks phase out entirely for those whose adjusted gross income is over the following amounts:
- $80,000 for individuals
- $120,000 for those filing as head of household
- $160,000 for married couples filing jointly, or those filing as a qualifying widow or widower
Still unsure how much youll get? Try this stimulus check calculator.
How Do I Get My Third Stimulus Check
You dont need to do anything if:
- You have filed a tax return for tax year 2019 or 2020.
- You are a Social Security recipient, including Social Security Disability Insurance , railroad retiree. Or you are a Supplemental Security Insurance and Veterans Affairs beneficiary.
- You successfully signed up for the first stimulus check online using the IRS Non-Filers tool or submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS.
The IRS will automatically send your payment. You can check on the status of your third stimulus check by visiting the IRS Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish.
If you are missing your third stimulus check, file your 2020 tax return or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement. By submitting your information to the IRS, you will be signed up and automatically sent the third stimulus check.
Read Also: Who Is Eligible For Third Stimulus Check
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.
The Irs Is Sending Out Another Round Of Stimulus Payments Here’s What You Need To Know About The Third Stimulus Check With Your Name On It
The IRS started sending third stimulus check payments in batches shortly after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11. And, so far, the tax agency has sent over 150 million payments. But many Americans especially those who haven’t received a check yet still have a lot of questions about the third-round stimulus checks. At the top of the list: How much will I get? And when will I get it?
Fortunately, we have answers to these and other frequently asked questions about your third stimulus check. We also have a nifty Third Stimulus Check Calculator that tells you how much money you should get . Read on to get the answers you need to the questions you have. Once you know more about your third stimulus check, you can start figuring out how you can use the money to your advantage.
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How Soon Might You Receive A $1400 Check
But that’s only for the dates the IRS will begin to send checks. It could take weeks for the IRS to process every group’s funds and more time for the transactions to go through, especially if you’re issued a paper check or EIP card. Any additional complication could delay your payment. The schedule below reflects CNET’s best guesses, based on the IRS’ timeline for the 600 dollar stimulus check.
I Filed My Taxes In February But I Wasnt In The First Payment Round Whats Up With That
The way the IRS determines who gets their money when is a mystery to everyone but the IRS. Were not sure why some people got their payments right away, why some people have to wait, and why some people arent getting answers through the Get My Payment tool yet.
If you filed your 2020 taxes, one thing to keep in mind is that the IRS may not have processed your return yet. The IRS is still working through a backlog of 2019 tax returns due to the shutdown during the pandemic last year, along with processing 2020 returns.
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