My Spouse And I Only Got Half A Stimulus Payment Can We Fix It
The IRS says that some married couples filing jointly may have only received half the amount theyre eligible to receive. The IRS is working on getting the remainder out to eligible couples. Your payments may arrive via different methods, so watch the mail in case you get a check or EIP card for the missing amount.
The IRS recommends that each spouse visit the Get My Payment portal individually to check their payment status.
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.
Who Is Eligible For The Payment
The legislation provides a payment of $1,400 for a single taxpayer or $2,800 for a married couple that files jointly, and $1,400 per dependent.
Individuals earning up to $75,000 get the full amount, and so do married couples who earn up to $150,000.
There is a hard cut-off at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married couples. Income is based on your 2020 tax filing or your 2019 taxes if you havent filed yet.
Also Check: How To Get California Stimulus Check
How The Irs Will Determine Your Third Stimulus Check
Not all in the United States may be eligible for the entire $1,400 stimulus package, and others will not be qualified at all. Your adjusted gross income , which can be found on your most recent tax return, can be used by the IRS to assess your eligibility. It’s a figure derived from subtracting deductions from the net gross revenue, such as contributions to a retirement account, HSA contributions, and student loan interest. Here are the figures you’ll need to see whether you qualify for the third stimulus check, as well as where to look for them, as per Business Insider.
Only those earning less than a specific AGI will be eligible for a full stimulus check. Here are the income limits you’ll need to fall within to receive the full $1,400 per person in your household :
- For single filers, an AGI of $75,000 or less is needed.
- For head-of-household filers, an AGI of $112,500 or less is needed.
- For married joint filers, an AGI of $150,000 or less is required.
People with marginally higher incomes would be eligible for a partial stimulus check per household member. To earn a portion of the check, the AGI must be less than:
- In the case of single filers: An AGI of $80,000 or less is required.
- For head-of-household filers, an AGI of $120,000 or less is needed.
- For married joint filers, an AGI of $160,000 or less is required.
The Irs Tool Might Say Your Payment Was Sent To You
If the IRS’ online tool says the agency has issued your stimulus money, but you have no record of it in your bank account and it never arrived in your mailbox, you may need to take one of these steps, including possibly filing a stimulus check payment trace. You’ll need to have the letter the IRS sent you.
Don’t Miss: How To Check For Stimulus Check 2021
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.
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.
Don’t Miss: Stimulus Where’s My Payment
Third Payments Differed From Previous Economic Impact Payments
The third payments differed from the earlier payments in several respects:
- Income phaseout amounts changed. Payments were reduced for individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $75,000 . The reduced payments end at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married filing jointly. People above these levels did not receive any payment.
- Payment amounts are different. Most families received $1,400 per person, including all dependents claimed on their tax return. Typically, this means a single person with no dependents received $1,400, while married filers with two dependents received $5,600.
- Qualifying dependents expanded. Unlike the first two payments, the third payment was not restricted to children under 17. Eligible individuals received a payment based on all of their qualifying dependents claimed on their return, including older relatives like college students, adults with disabilities, parents and grandparents.
When Should You Request An Irs Payment Trace
Since the third stimulus checks are still being sent, you could hold out a little longer before taking action. If you didn’t get your first or second check at all, though, it’s time to do something. This chart shows when you can and should request an IRS payment trace, which is designed to hunt down a stimulus check the agency says it sent. More below on exactly how a payment trace works, how to get started and when to use it.
Don’t Miss: 3rd Stimulus Check Status Irs
How To Resolve The Issue Of A Missing Stimulus Check
If you determine that your third stimulus payment was issued but you haven’t received it, or if your check hasn’t been issued yet and you need to get the process started, there are ways to resolve the issue. These include:
A payment trace with the IRS
If the IRS Get My Payment tool gives you a date that your check was issued and you still haven’t received it — or if you receive the confirmation from the IRS stating that your payment was sent — you may need to initiate a payment trace with the IRS.
You’ll need to call the IRS at 800-919-9835 to initiate the payment trace. You can also mail or fax a completed Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund , to start the process.
Use the non-filer tool
If you haven’t filed a tax return in recent years, you may want to use the IRS non-filer sign-up tool that was recently created by the federal agency. This tool can be used for a number of reasons: if you didn’t file a 2019 or 2020 tax return, were not required to file a tax return, do not plan to file a tax return, or if you did not receive the full amount of the first or second stimulus payments.
The good part about using this tool is that it gets the ball rolling on both your missing stimulus payment and the Child Tax Credit money, which is going to be issued beginning next month to those who qualify.
File your 2020 tax return
What The Online Get My Payment Tool Can’t Tell You
The IRS tool won’t give you hourly updates — the status information is updated once daily — nor will it tell you how much stimulus money you’re getting or provide details on the first two stimulus checks approved in 2020. You won’t find steps for what to do if you run into payment problems.
The IRS doesn’t want you to call if you have payment trouble. The agency says its representatives don’t have information beyond what’s shown in the tool. Here’s what we recommend doing to address a stimulus issue.
Another way to find out more info on your third payment is to create an IRS account online. If you are sent a plus-up payment after your 2020 tax return is processed, you should see the amount of your plus-up payment with your online account.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is Next Stimulus Check
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.
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.
Don’t Miss: Are We Getting A Fourth Stimulus Check
Stimulus Latest: How To Track Your Third Relief Payment With Online Tool
- 11:47 ET, Jun 17 2021
FOR Americans still waiting on their third stimulus check, the IRS has a tool on its website that allows you to track the status of your payment.
More than 169 million stimulus payments have been sent out by the federal government since the America Rescue Plan was signed into law in March.
Read our stimulus checks live blog for the latest updates on Covid-19 relief…
The staggering number of checks means that $396 billion in aid has hit American bank accounts in just the last three months.
However, some are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their payments, with the IRS having until the end of the year to issue all the funds set aside in Biden’s $1.9 billion rescue plan.
Other Americans are waiting on “plus-up” payments, after not being issued enough funds during prior rounds of stimulus.
There are a number of reasons why your check might be delayed, including a physical check being stuck en route in the mail.
There also could be information you need to act on, such as updating your banking information or mailing address.
To get an update on the status of your payment, use the Get My Payment tool on the IRS’ website.
There, you’ll be asked to enter your Social Security number, date of birth, street address and ZIP or postal code.
The tool will display a message with information about your payment, including when the payment was sent to you, when it’s due to arrive, and the payment method through which you will receive the funds.
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.
You May Like: When Will I Get The Stimulus
Stimulus Check Status: How To Track Down Your Payment Now
ByKate Kozuchpublished 9 April 21
Tracking your third stimulus check status online can help you locate your $1,400 payment. As with the first and second stimulus checks, the IRS offers an online tool that can tell you when to expect your share of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Americans who meet the $1,400 third stimulus check eligibility requirements can see the status of their payment right now with the IRS’s Get My Payment portal. Even if you’re not eligible for the full stimulus-check amount, you can get a look at your payment’s standing.
To help people keep tabs through upcoming payment cycles, the IRS has updated the Get My Payment app with information for the latest stimulus check. After you fill out a short form, you should be able to view the status of your stimulus check if you’re due to get one.
Whether you’re getting your check in the mail or direct deposit into your bank account, the Get My Payment app should be able to answer some of your questions. You can also use the IRS stimulus check phone number for more help.
Reminder: Unless you’re exempt, you’ll need to have filed your taxes for 2019 or 2020 before the IRS can send you a relief payment.
Here’s how to use the IRS Get My Payment online tool to track your third stimulus check status right now.
Still No Third Stimulus Check Track Your Money Now With This Online Tool
If you’re still missing your third payment, use the IRS Get My Payment tool. It’s easy to use and free for everyone.
In the dark about your stimulus payment? You can find out more through the IRS website tracker.
If your third stimulus check hasn’t arrived yet, you’re likely becoming concerned about what’s happened to it. But don’t get too worried yet — start by checking your bank account because it may have a pending deposit.Iit’s also possible the check is stuck en route in the mail. Once you figure out your payment status, you may find that you’re owed a “plus-up” supplemental payment if the IRS didn’t send you enough stimulus money.
However, there could be information you need to act on if that’s the case, the IRS online tracking tool will let you know. It’ll also show if you need to file a payment trace for that missing third check. The tool isn’t perfect, but it’s a great way to learn your payment status. It won’t tell you how much money to expect — not everyone gets $1,400 — but you can use our stimulus calculator to estimate that amount.
In mid-July, the IRS will begin disbursing advance child tax credit checks for up to $300 a month for those eligible — you can use this separate calculator for that. Here’s how to claim up to thousands in child care expenses and what we know about a possible fourth stimulus payment. We have updated this story.
Read Also: How Do I Change My Direct Deposit For Stimulus Check
Still Don’t Have A Stimulus Check Here’s How To Track Yours
May 12, 2021 / 3:35 PM / MoneyWatch
While major banks in the U.S. started delivering $1,400 stimulus checks in March, the federal relief payments continue to arrive at millions of households struggling to make ends meet amid the coronavirus-hobbled economy.
The Internal Revenue Service has delivered more than 165 million payments, with a total value of approximately $388 billion, the agency said Wednesday. The latest round includes 1 million payments, with the IRS noting they have an official payment date of May 12. That means the most recent recipients will receive a direct deposit on Wednesday, or soon get a paper check or pre-paid debit card in the mail.
The timing and delivery of checks has been a cause of anxiety for some people, especially for those who receive government benefits such as Social Security and don’t typically file taxes. The IRS prioritized sending checks to people who have already filed their 2019 or 2020 tax returns, since the agency was able to quickly verify eligibility based on income and also determine where to mail or direct deposit the checks.
The agency said it’s sending another 500,000 payments to eligible people who recently filed a tax return but for whom it didn’t previously have information to issue a stimulus check.