Where’s My Stimulus Check
You can check the status of your stimulus check using the IRS’s “Get My Payment” tool, which updates once a day. It will show you how your money is being sent and also confirm whether your first stimulus check was sent.
However, there are some people who will not be able to access the “Get My Payment” tool at this time: some people who receive federal benefits, and people who didn’t file a tax return or use the nonfilers tool to register for the first stimulus check.
If you get a “not available” status message, the IRS says you’re either not eligible for a second stimulus check or you are eligible but will not be paid right now. You might also see that message if you filed your 2019 tax return using H& R Block or TurboTax and paid the fees out of your refund. Both tax providers said these issues have been resolved, and qualifying taxpayers should see the payments in their bank accounts soon if they haven’t already.
Keep in mind that several banks offer early direct deposit, which typically applies to your paycheck, but may extend to your stimulus check.
What To Do If There’s A Direct Deposit Issue
The IRS tracking tool for the third stimulus check doesn’t allow you to add direct deposit information this time unless the IRS can’t deliver your payment. So if you have a problem, what do you do? Your check may have bounced back to the IRS if the agency tried to send your payment to a now-closed bank account or to a temporary prepaid debit card a tax preparer set up for you. If your payment was returned to the IRS, the agency will mail your check to the current address it has on file for you. If that check is returned, then the IRS will let you enter your banking information in the Get My Payment tool, the IRS said.
First, we suggest you call your bank or tax preparer — it never hurts to cover all your bases to confirm that an attempt was made to deposit money into a closed account or debit card.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to wait and monitor the Get My Payment tracker to keep tabs on your check delivery. We also recommend signing up for a free service to track your check to your mailbox.
What To Do If The Irs ‘needs More Information’
If the Get My Payment tool gave you a payment date but you still haven’t received your money, the IRS may need more information. Check the Get My Payment tool again and if it reports “Need More Information,” this could indicate that your check has been returned because the post office was unable to deliver it, an IRS representative told CNET. Here are more details on how the tracker tool works and what the messages mean.
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I Got A Payment Status Not Available Message
Many checking on their second stimulus check were seeing a message that said “Payment Status #2 – Not Available.” The IRS has indicated that these individuals will not receive a stimulus check by direct deposit or mail and they will have to file their 2020 tax return to claim their “Recovery Rebate Credit.” See below for instructions on claiming the rebate on your tax return.
These messages have now disappeared and will be replaced by information about the third payment.
I Had A Problem With The First Or Second Payment

Some individuals had too much income in 2019 to qualify for the first or second stimulus payment , but their income decreased enough in 2020 for them to qualify. If you fall into this category, you can file a tax return for your 2020 taxes and you’ll receive a recovery rebate credit as part of your refund .
In other cases, families received stimulus payments by direct deposit but the IRS neglected to add money for one or more of their children. Sometimes there didn’t seem to be a reason for this . For other families, it seems the IRS did not update the number of children that taxpayers have, even for families who claimed new children on their 2019 tax returns. You’ll be able to claim the rest of the stimulus payment when you file your next tax return.
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The Irs Get My Payment Tool Says Your Check Was Mailed Or Deposited But You Didnt Get It So Now What
Many 13News viewers say the IRS portal indicates their check was mailed on Jan. 6, yet they have not yet seen a payment.
We can verify your stimulus money might still be on the way. The IRSs website says if the Get My Payment tool shows your payment was mailed, it may take up to three to four weeks for you to receive it. The agency isnt saying WHY it could take that long, but it advises to watch your mail carefully for a check or a debit card.
According to IRS.gov, if you checked GMP on or after Jan. 5 and:
- GMP reflects a direct deposit date and partial account information, then your payment is deposited there.
- GMP reflects a date your payment was mailed it may take up to three to four weeks for you to receive the payment. Watch your mail carefully for a check or an EIP debit card.
See below for more information on what to do if you dont get your payment soon.
Who Is Eligible For A Second Stimulus Check
Similar to the first stimulus checks, only those earning below a certain amount will be eligible. According to Newsweek, Americans who earned less than $75,000 in 2019 will qualify for the full $600 stimulus check. Anyone who made over $75,000 in 2019 will receive a reduced payment, and Americans who earned over $99,000 in 2019 will not receive any support.
Children are also eligible to receive the full $600 stimulus check, which is $100 more than they received during the first round of checks. You can calculate how much your household will get here. And to see how your state is doing with the vaccine, check out These States Are Getting Less of the COVID Vaccine Than They Were Told.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
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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.
How Much Money Will I Get
Right now, stimulus checks for qualifying individuals are $600. Qualifying couples will receive $1,200 and qualifying dependents get $600.
The size of your stimulus check is based on your adjusted gross income , which is your total income minus adjustments like standard or itemized deductions. Adults with AGIs up to $75,000 per year and couples earning up to $150,000 per year will receive $600 per person. The income cap for heads of households to get the full $600 is $112,500.
Find Out How Much Youll Get With The Forbes Advisor Stimulus Check Calculator
Your payment decreases by $5 per $100 you make above the threshold. If youre an individual who makes more than $87,000, you wont get a payment. If youre a couple with an adjusted gross income of $174,000 or more, or a head of household making more than $124,500, you wont get any money.
And yes: Depending on your income, you could receive a stimulus check for as little as $5.
To determine your adjusted gross income for 2019, look at line 8b of Form 1040 on your 2019 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
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How Get Your 1st And 2nd Stimulus Check
The only way to get the 1st and/or 2nd stimulus check is to file a 2020 tax return and use the recovery rebate credit in the Federal Review section to get it. If you filed a 2020 return and did not complete that section then you can amend your 2020 return.
If you still need to file a 2020 return:
Online preparation and e-filing for 2018 and 2019 and 2020 is permanently closed.
To file a return for a prior tax year
If you need to prepare a return for 2018, 2019 or 2020 you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign, and mail the return
You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sams, etc.
Remember to prepare your state return as wellif you live in a state that has a state income tax.
When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2s or any 1099s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.
Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.
Second Economic Stimulus Check: Summary Of Important Points
- Stimulus checks worth up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for married couples are hitting bank accounts and mailboxes this month.
- Most Americans will get their second stimulus check the same way they received their first, but there are a few exceptions.
- The IRS is using information from 2019 tax returns, federal benefit accounts and its online Economic Impact Payment tool to pay most people in mid-January.
- If you dont receive your stimulus check by the end of January and youre eligible, you can claim it on your 2020 tax return.
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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?
Q How Much Was The Second Stimulus Check For

A. Your second stimulus check depended on your 2019 income. The full amount was $600 per individual, $1,200 per couple, and $600 per qualifying child under the age of 17. For expats to qualify for the full second stimulus check, you must have had $75,000 or less in income if you filed as single, $112,500 or less if you filed as head of household, or $150,000 or less if you filed jointly with your spouse or as a qualifying widow. Youd also then qualify for a $600 payment per qualifying child.
For those above this income level, your stimulus check amount would lower $5 for each $100 your AGI exceeded the above thresholds.
Q. Did I have to pay back the amount I get?
A. No.
Q. Will this affect my 2020 tax return?
A. It could only help your 2020 return. If you are eligible for more stimulus than you were awarded, you may be able to claim it as a credit on your return that either decreases your tax liability or increases your refund. If youre eligible for less or received the full amount, you dont have to pay it back and it wont affect your return.
Q. Will I owe tax on this second stimulus check in 2021 or have to pay it back?
A. No, this is considered a tax credit, not income, so you will not need to pay taxes on it in 2021 or pay it back.
Q. Im retired overseas and dont file a tax return did I qualify for the second stimulus check?
Q. What if I didnt have an SSN but filed a U.S. return. Did I get to take advantage of the second stimulus check?
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You Filed Taxes Using An Online Tax Preparation Service
Anyone who has filed their 2019 tax return with H& R Block and opted to use part of their refund to pay their preparation fee could see an unknown account number reflected in the Get My Payment tool, according to H& R Block.
Simply check that account number against the refund section of your tax return to see if it matches, and youll receive the money the same way you received your refund.
What If The Irs Sent The Check To A Closed Account
Because people can’t update their bank account information on the “Get My Payment” site, there’s concern that some checks might be sent to accounts that were recently closed. If that’s the case, the IRS says you’ll have to wait until you file your 2020 tax returns.
The stimulus checks are actually a tax rebate that can be applied to your annual tax returns but that means people may be waiting weeks or even months for their stimulus money to show up through their tax refund.
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Is My Second Stimulus Check Taxable
The IRS does not consider stimulus checks taxable income. This means that you do not have to report them on your tax return or pay income taxes on either check.
Eligible recipients who did not get the first or second stimulus checks can claim a recovery rebate credit to increase their tax refund or lower their tax liability. So if you are expecting to get money back on your 2020 tax return, your refund could get a big boost depending on how much stimulus money the government owes you.
And comparatively, if you expect to owe taxes on your 2020 return, then you can use your recovery rebate credit to offset your tax bill and get a refund for the remaining amount.
Many taxpayers this year are looking to their tax refunds to get extra money for their finances. For reference, the average tax refund in 2020 was more than $2,500. The IRS expects over 150 million tax returns to be filed this year.
The 2021 tax season will begin on February 12. And taxpayers will need to file their 2020 returns by April 15.
When Will I Get My Second Stimulus Check
The IRS has announced the first round of direct deposit second stimulus checks were sent on December 29th, 2020. These will continue for the next couple of weeks and into 2021. Physical stimulus checks will be mailed starting December 30th, 2020.
Millions of Americans were relieved during the 2020 holiday season when the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act was signed into law. It meant that millions of American taxpayers would get a second Federal stimulus check.
The IRS will be responsible for issuing these checks, and they will be using 2019 tax return information to do it. However, it is likely that many Americans are now wondering where their second stimulus check is, how much they will get, and if they need to file their 2020 taxes to get a check?
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Why Is It Saying Payment Not Available
This was a message that frustrated many consumers in the first round of checks, and resulted from a number of issues, such as if the IRS was still verifying whether a person qualified for a check.
Some people are receiving this message with the second round of stimulus checks, which the IRS says either means the person doesn’t qualify for a check such as if their income exceeds the eligibility threshold or the IRS says it was “unable to issue you an EIP 2 payment,” which is the IRS’ term for the second stimulus check.
The IRS said that it might not be able to issue a second stimulus payment if it is still processing your most recent tax return.
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.
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