My Stimulus Payment Went To The Wrong Bank Account
If the Get My Payment tool tells you your check will be direct-deposited, it will also provide the last four digits of the number of the bank account into which your stimulus payment will be deposited. For the initial checks, some individuals saw that their deposit was going to an old bank account, or they even saw bank account numbers that they didn’t recognize. Here’s what to do:
- If the tool says that your payment was deposited into your bank account but you haven’t seen it yet, your bank may still be processing it.
- You won’t necessarily get the third check direct deposited, even if the first or second one was direct deposited.
- If your third stimulus payment is sent to a closed bank account, the bank is required to transfer the money back to the IRS. The IRS will not redeposit it to you or mail you a paper check. Instead, you will have to file your 2021 tax return to claim your “Recovery Rebate Credit.” See below for instructions on claiming the rebate on your tax return.
- If H& R Block submitted your last tax return and you signed up for a “refund transfer,” the IRS might deposit your stimulus payment with H& R Block . H& R Block should transfer the money to your bank account within 24 hours.
- Those who submitted their last tax return with Turbo Tax should receive their payments in the same bank accounts through which they received their tax refunds.
California Adjusted Gross Income
You must have $1 to $75,000 of California AGI to qualify for GSS II. Only certain income is included in your CA AGI . If you have income that’s on this list, you may meet the CA AGI qualification. To receive GSS II and calculate your CA AGI, you need to file a complete 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021. Visit Ways to file, including free options, for more information.
Income included in CA AGI
Generally, these are included in your CA AGI:
- Wages and self-employment income
- Gains on a sale of property
Visit Income types for a list of the common types of income.
Income excluded from CA AGI
Generally, these are not included in your CA AGI:
- Social Security
- Supplemental Security Income /State Supplementary Payment and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants
- State Disability Insurance and VA disability benefits
- Unemployment income
You would generally not qualify for GSS II if these were your only sources of income. However, if you have income that is included in CA AGI in addition to this list, you may qualify for GSS II.
For information about specific situations, refer to federal Form 1040 and 1040-SR Instructions and California 2020 Instructions for Form 540. Go to Line 17 of Form 540 for CA AGI.
If you receive Social Security
You may be wondering whether or not you qualify for GSS II if you receive Social Security income. Social Security income is not included in CA AGI. However, if you have $1 or more of CA AGI , you may qualify for GSS II.
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Do You Need To File Another Form With The Irs If Your Money Hasnt Arrived
As was the case with the first check, if you filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return or receive government benefits, the IRS should automatically send your second check for $600 without you having to do anything.
If, however, youre a US citizen or permanent resident, had a gross income in 2019 under $12,200 or $24,400 as a married couple and didnt file a return for 2018 or 2019, you may have needed to give the IRS a bit of information before they can process your payment. If you missed the Nov. 21 deadline to use the IRS Non-Filers tool, you would likely have to claim that money on your next tax return in the form of a Recovery Rebate Credit, described above.
As always, be sure to contact a tax professional for advice and answer any questions when filing your return.
What To Do About A Missing Or Stolen Eip Debit Card

At least 5 million people will receive their third stimulus check on a prepaid debit card called the Economic Impact Payment Card, instead of a paper check. For the third payment, the EIP card arrives in a white envelope sent from “Economic Impact Payment Card.” The letter will have a US Department of the Treasury seal.
The card has the Visa name on the front and the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A., on the back. Information included with the EIP Card explains that this is your Economic Impact Payment. If you receive an EIP Card, visit EIPcard.com for more information.
If you’ve misplaced or thrown away your card, the EIP card service has an FAQ on what to do if your card is lost or stolen. You can also call 800-240-8100 to request a replacement. It’s free, according to a spokesperson for the Treasury Department. To request a new card, press option 2 when prompted.
However, the EIP card website says, “Your Card will be deactivated to prevent anyone from using it and a new replacement Card will be ordered. Fees may apply.” We recommend calling the above number for a lost or stolen card and speaking to a representative. If you may have lost or thrown away a paper check, read the mail fraud section below.
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Every American citizen who earned less than $75,000 or$150,000 total for married couples in 2019 or 2020 has been eligible for the three rounds of pandemic stimulus: the $1,200 check last spring, the $600 check in December, and the $1,400 checks that are on their way right now.
Thats a significant chunk of money, enough to be life-changing for people saving up for a security deposit for an apartment, finally getting needed medical care, paying for the transition into a better job,or dealing with unexpected life events. In the latest stimulusbill, theres even more money for anyone eligible for unemployment and anyone with dependent children.
But for the people who need the checks most, they can be hard to get. Thats because the primary mechanism by which the government sends the checks to people is throughtheir tax filing that is, stimulus checks are sent automatically to households that filed tax returns. But lots of Americas poorest households dont file taxes because their income is low enough that its not required.ProPublica estimated in the fall that 9 million Americans who were eligible for a stimulus check didnt receive one, mostly because their income was so low they didnt file taxes.
What About People With Itins
You still need a work-authorizing Social Security Number to be eligible for this stimulus. However, there are important changes since the first round of stimulus checks.
- In the first stimulus rollout, any non-SSN holder on a joint return made everyone on that return ineligible. Big change: The new rounds of stimulus has corrected this problem. If you filed a joint return with a non-SSN holder, you are still eligible for the stimulus. See the below hypotheticals.
- Situation: A single tax filer has an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number but no Social Security number .
- This person is ineligible for the stimulus.
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Talk To All Creditors And Lenders
The CARES Act puts into effect two mortgage relief provisions: protection from foreclosure, and a right to forbearance for those experiencing loss of income due to COVID-19. However, the provisions are not automatic and are only for federal loans, so you MUST talk to your lender.
If a creditor/lender offers you a payment plan or other relief, make sure you get it in writing and take note of the names and dates of the customer service representatives with whom you speak.
Thankfully, some utility companies have announced they won’t cut off services if they aren’t being paid. Be sure you know all of your utility and service providers’ stance on this, so there are no surprises. You don’t want to make any assumptions.
RELATED: Your lender might let you miss a few mortgage payments. Three questions you should ask first
Will There Be Income Restrictions
Yes. Your adjusted gross income will be used to determine whether you qualify, and if so, how much you will get.
- If your AGI for 2019 or 2020 is $75,000 , then you will get the full amount. For AGIs above those amounts, your payment will be reduced proportionately until it reaches zero at $80,000 and $160,000, respectively.
- For Heads of Households, the amounts will be $112,500 and $120,000.
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When You Use Get My Payment Youll See One Of The Following Messages:
Payment Status: Will inform you that your payment has been processed or that you are eligible for a stimulus payment but it hasnt been processed yet. If your payment has been processed, the portal will tell you when to expect it and whether it will be sent by mail or by direct deposit, but it will not tell you how much to look forward to receiving.
Payment Status Not Available: The IRS still hasnt determined whether you are eligible or not. It may be the IRS is missing information to finish the determination. The IRS recommends filing a tax return this year even if you dont normally have to.
Need More Information: This message means that your payment was returned to the IRS because the Postal Service was unable to deliver it. You will need to update your information with the agency so they can reissue the payment. There is more information on this at the end of the article.
For other questions when troubleshooting problems with your third stimulus check payment the IRS provides a helpful Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions.
Did you know you can check the deposit date of your third Economic Impact Payment with an #IRS online tool? #COVIDreliefIRS
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Eligibility For A ‘plus
You can estimate how much money the IRS owes your household for the third stimulus check. Just make sure to triple-check that you meet the qualifications, including the income limits.
Because of the overlap with tax season 2020, many people may receive some, but not all, of their allotted amount. If your income changed in 2020, in some cases, the IRS may owe you more money than you received if the income figure used to calculate your payment from your tax returns in 2018 or 2019 is less in 2020. Likewise, if you now have a new dependent, such as a new baby, you may be owed more money.
The IRS is automatically sending “plus-up payments” to make up the difference. If you don’t get one, you may need to claim the missing money another way later in 2021 or even in 2022, since tax season is officially over now.
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How To Claim Your Money If Your First Or Second Stimulus Check Never Arrived
What to do if you never received any stimulus check depends on your situation. If you never got your money or a confirmation letter from the IRS saying your first payment was sent, you will likely have to file for the money as a Recovery Rebate Credit with your 2020 taxes this year. Youll need to use the 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR to claim a catch-up payment when filing before the April 15 deadline.
The IRS will provide a Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet if youre missing a payment and determine how much. If youre part of the group that doesnt usually file taxes , youll likely still need to file this year. You should also save your IRS letter Notice 1444 Your Economic Impact Payment with your 2020 tax records, as youll need it to file the claim.
You can also file for this Recovery Rebate Credit if you didnt receive the correct amount of money for your child dependents in your first or second check.
However, there could be other instances where your money didnt come through. Contact the IRS if:
- The Get My Payment tracking tool reported the IRS made your payment weeks ago, and you didnt get it.
- You received a confirmation letter from the IRS that your payment was sent, but you didnt get the funds.
- You think you accidentally threw out your prepaid EIP debit card or check.
- You suspect someone stole your check or defrauded you.
Still Waiting On Your Stimulus Check

The rampant spread of COVID-19 in the United States has caused a serious financial impact on the U.S. economy, as the stock market plunged amidst job losses and closed businesses. A glimmer of hope, though, has been the recent passing of legislation to help boost the American economy. The stimulus checks, which are part of a $2 trillion CARES act relief package, are set to help Americans who are unemployed or losing income due to COVID-19. Americans are receiving a $1,200 direct deposit or check from the IRS, assuming you meet the eligibility criteria.
Even though millions of Americans have received their payment, there are still many who have yet to see their stimulus check. If you find yourself in this category, there could be many reasons why you dont have your check. We wanted to point out some common reasons why your check may not have arrived and what you can do to make sure it gets to you safely!
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Check The Get My Payment Tool
The IRS website has been uploading data for your third stimulus payment into a tool on its website called Get My Payment. If your information has been updated, you’ll be able to see the date you can expect to receive your stimulus payment, or the date it was deposited or mailed. You should also be able to see whether your money was direct deposited or whether you’ll be receiving the payment by mail.
Many people are seeing a message that says either the IRS doesn’t have enough information yet or you aren’t eligible for the payment. This message doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t eligible for the payment. This information may be updated this coming weekend.
Here are some of the issues people are seeing, either with their actual deposit or with the Get My Payment tool.
What To Do About Payment Scams
Though it’s uncommon, you may believe you’ve been scammed out of your payment or had it stolen. The Federal Trade Commission has a website where you can report a stolen stimulus check. If you’re worried about theft, you can sign up for a free USPS service that will send you a picture of every piece of mail coming your way — including your stimulus payment.
Also Check: Stimulus Check How To Get
Golden State Stimulus I
California will provide the Golden State Stimulus payment to families and individuals who qualify. This is a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment per tax return. You may receive this payment if you receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit or file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number .
The Golden State Stimulus aims to:
- Support low-income Californians
- Help those facing a hardship due to COVID-19
For most Californians who qualify, you dont need to do anything to receive the stimulus payment.
The GSS I payment is a different payment than the Golden State Stimulus II .
Tips If You Dont Get Coronavirus Stimulus Check
If you dont get the payment by Jan. 15, then the first thing you need to do is check the status of your payment on the IRS Get My Payment tool. Here you will get information about if your payment was sent, whether your payment was sent via direct deposit or by mail and more.
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If the tool says the payment was sent to a bank account, but that account is not yours, then it is likely that you used a tax prep firm to file your 2019 tax returns. If such is the case, you need to contact your tax prep firm to know the status of your payment. The IRS and the tax prep firms are said to be working on resolving the issue.
If the tool says the IRS mailed you a paper stimulus check or debit card, then you should wait for a few days. At the time of the first coronavirus stimulus checks also, there were numerous concerns regarding the delays by the United States Postal Service. If you got the first stimulus check through the mail or debit card, then it is likely that your second payment would also arrive in the same way.
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