How Can You Check Your Stimulus Check Status
The Get My Payment tool on the IRS.gov website went live on Saturday and can help track your payment and check the status of your money.
The website notes the tool is updated once per day, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check multiple times per day.
The “Get My Payment” tool will tell you:
- Payment date
- Payment method Note: mail means you may be issued an EIP card or a check
If your payment status is not available, that means the IRS has not yet processed your payment, or you are not eligible for a payment.
If you get a message that says “Need More Information,” that means your payment was returned to the IRS because the post office was unable to deliver it. The IRS said people who got this message will eventually be able to use the tool to provide additional bank account information.
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.
Recommended Reading: Paypal Stimulus Check Deposit Time
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.
1 of 16
Don’t Miss: What’s Included In The New Stimulus Package
Why Can’t I Get On The Get My Payment Site
The IRS said this can happen if people don’t provide security answers that match the tax agency’s information over the course of several attempts to log in. The IRS asks for personal information such as a Social Security number, birthdate and address.
“If you can’t verify your identity, you won’t be able to use Get My Payment,” the IRS said. “Don’t contact the IRS for assistance with a lockout IRS assisters can’t unlock your account.”
However, the site will allow you to try again after 24 hours.
When Will The Third Stimulus Check Be Issued

The government started sending the third stimulus checks on March 12, 2021. The IRS continues to send third stimulus checks as people submit their information to the IRS either by filing a 2020 tax return or using GetCTC.org. The deadline to use GetCTC.org is November 15, 2021.
If you have your banking information on file, the IRS sent your payment via direct deposit. Otherwise, you will receive your payment as a check or debit card via mail. Mailed checks and debit cards may take longer to deliver.
If you dont fall into any of these categories, youll have to wait to receive your third stimulus check. You will need to file a 2020 federal tax return to get the third stimulus check or use GetCTC.org if you dont have a filing requirement.
You can also get the first and second stimulus check as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return or GetCTC.org if you are eligible.
Don’t Miss: Where To Cash Stimulus Check
What If The Irs Sends The Incorrect Amount
The IRS has said that the third stimulus payments will be based on 2020 income. So if you receive a payment before the agency processes last year’s return but you qualify for more money based on your 2020 income, the agency will top off your stimulus payment at some point this year.
Taxpayers won’t have to do anything to get all of the money they are eligible for, except file their 2020 returns. If you qualify for less money in 2020, you will not owe any money back.
This is also true for people who have a child during the year, or who receive an incorrect payment amount.
The agency has so far not given a date for when it expects to make these additional payments.
Top Credit Card Wipes Out Interest Into 2023
If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card secures you a 0% intro APR into 2023! Plus, youll pay no annual fee. Those are just a few reasons why our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. Read The Ascents full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Read Also: Wheres My Stimulus Check 3 Irs
Also Check: How To Get My 1400 Stimulus Check
Which Payment Group Is Yours
How you get your stimulus money often indicates when you get it. Here’s what happened in the past with the different types of groups.
- Direct-deposit recipients: Typically got their stimulus money in the first wave but there were issues involving deposits going to temporary accounts that were rejected by banks. In some cases, these people got paper checks or EIP cards instead or had to wait for the issue to be resolved.
- Paper checks: This is the payment type the IRS sent out second. This method can take weeks to arrive by mail, but the check can be deposited or cashed right away.
- EIP cards: This payment type arrives as a prepaid debit card you must activate online to use. The IRS issued EIP cards last, delaying receipt for this recipient group by weeks.
What If I Still Haven’t Gotten The First Or Second Stimulus Check
You’ll need to file your 2020 tax return to claim any stimulus money you’re owed from the first two rounds.
There will be a separate worksheet on your tax return with instructions for calculating any outstanding amount owed to you, called the Recovery Rebate Credit. If you file your taxes online, the provider will prompt you to enter the information and do the calculations for you.
If you do qualify for additional stimulus money, you won’t get it right away. It will first be applied to your outstanding tax bill. If your bill is reduced to $0, the rest of the money will be added to your refund. The IRS delivers most refunds within three weeks.
Read Also: Where Is Stimulus Check 3
Other Payments And Ubi
Some other states have sent out direct payments.
This includes Maine and Seattle, and Maryland, which are sending stimulus checks worth $285, $3,000, and $500.
Some cities are also implementing universal basic income programs, which is a set of recurring payments.
Teens in New Orleans, Louisiana will start getting $350 in monthly payments this month as part of the states financial literacy program.
Households with low earnings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will get $500 a month in payments for two years.
Low-income households in Chicago will get $500 in monthly payments.
And Columbia is sending out $500 per month to 100 low-income fathers.
I Think I Got Paid Too Much Will I Have To Return My Stimulus Payment
During the first and second rounds of payment, if your stimulus amount was too much based on your income, you did not have to pay back the difference. That is likely to be the case for this round of payments as well.
If you received a payment in errorfor instance, for someone who died in 2020the IRS offers instructions for returning a payment.
Don’t Miss: Irs 600 Stimulus Check Status
Amount Of Third Stimulus Checks
Question: How much money will I get?
Answer: Everyone wants to know how much money they will get. You probably heard that your third stimulus check will be for $1,400 but it’s not that simple. That’s just the base amount. Your check could actually be much higher or lower.
To calculate the amount of your check, Uncle Sam will start with that $1,400 figure. If you’re married and file a joint tax return, then both you and your spouse will get $1,400 . If you have dependents, you get an additional $1,400 for of them. So, for example, a married couple with two children can get up to $5,600.
Now the bad news. Stimulus payment amounts will be phased-out for people at certain income levels. Your check will be gradually reduced to zero if you’re single with an adjusted gross income above $75,000. If you’re married and file a joint tax return, the amount of your stimulus check will drop if your AGI exceeds $150,000. If you claim the head-of-household filing status on your tax return, your payment will be reduced if your AGI tops $112,500. You won’t get any payment at all if your AGI is above $80,000 , $120,000 , or $160,000 .
Also note that the IRS, which is issuing the payments, will look at either your 2019 or 2020 tax return for your filing status, AGI, and information about your dependents. Because of this, the amount of your third stimulus check could depending on when you file your 2020 tax return.
The American Rescue Plan Authorizes A Third Round Of Stimulus Checks When Might You Receive Your Payment

The IRS started sending third stimulus check payments just a couple of days after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act. In less than a week, 90 million Americans had pocketed a total of $242 billion in stimulus payments. But that was just the first wave of payments. More stimulus checks will be sent mostly by direct deposit, but some through the mail as a paper check or debit card. So, if you’re eligible for a payment but haven’t received your third stimulus check yet, hang in there.
We don’t know yet how long it will take to distribute all payments. Hopefully, it will be a matter of weeks, not months, before the vast majority of third stimulus checks are delivered. We shall see. In any event, whether you get your payment in the next few days or in a couple of weeks, at least you know payments will be sent soon. And since the IRS has bank account information for more Americans than it did when first-round stimulus checks were being processed, they’ll be able to deposit payments directly into bank accounts for most eligible Americans. This will speed up the payment process considerably. That’s good news for people who lost income because of the pandemic and desperately need the extra cash.
You May Like: When Will Stimulus Check Be Deposited
Are Adult Dependents Getting Third Stimulus Checks
The new stimulus plan expands eligibility to adult dependents, including college students, elderly relatives and disabled adults.
The text of the plan redefines the term dependent according to section 152 of the tax code, which includes both qualifying children and adults: Section 152 provides that the term dependent means a qualifying child ) or a qualifying relative ).
While the plan pays out $1,400 for each qualifying dependent, families should keep in mind that the targeted lower income ranges exclude them if they earn over $160,000.
For reference, the second stimulus checks provided additional $600 payments for qualifying dependents under the age of 17. So a couple filing jointly with three eligible children could get a maximum second payment of $3,000 .
Under the first and second rounds of stimulus checks, children and adult dependents over the age limit could not get an additional payment, and they did not qualify for a stimulus check of their own either.
With the new stimulus plan, however, both joint filers and heads of household get an additional $1,400 payment for each dependent, regardless of age. The table below breaks down the third stimulus checks for heads of household with one dependent:
Stimulus Checks for Heads of Household & 1 Dependent |
AGI |
$120,000 and up | $0 |
Back Taxes Child Support And Other Debts
Getty Image
Question: Can the IRS or other creditors take my third stimulus check if I owe back taxes, child support or other debts?
Answer: Your third stimulus check is not subject to reduction or offset to pay child support, federal taxes, state income taxes, debts owed to federal agencies, or unemployment compensation debts.
However, the American Rescue Plan doesn’t include additional protections that were included in the legislation authorizing the second round of stimulus checks. For example, second-round stimulus checks weren’t subject to garnishment by creditors or debt collectors. They couldn’t be lost in bankruptcy proceedings, either. The IRS also had to encode direct deposit payments so that banks knew they couldn’t be garnished.
Question: Can a dead person get a third stimulus check?
Answer: For the third round of stimulus checks, anyone who died before January 1, 2021, is not eligible to receive a payment. Essentially, they’re treated as if they don’t have a Social Security number.
There is an exception for military personnel. If a person who died before 2021 was married and a member of the U.S. military, the surviving spouse can still receive a third stimulus check even if he or she doesn’t have a Social Security number.
The extra $1,400 per dependent is also off the table if the parent died before 2021 or, in the case of a joint return, both parents died before then.
Question: Will I receive a notice from the IRS about my payment?
Don’t Miss: When The Next Stimulus Check Coming
Highlights Of The Third Round Of Economic Impact Payments Irs Will Automatically Calculate Amounts
In general, most people will get $1,400 for themselves and $1,400 for each of their qualifying dependents claimed on their tax return. As with the first two Economic Impact Payments in 2020, most Americans will receive their money without having to take any action. Some Americans may see the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before the official payment date of March 17.
Because these payments are automatic for most eligible people, contacting either financial institutions or the IRS on payment timing will not speed up their arrival. Social Security and other federal beneficiaries will generally receive this third payment the same way as their regular benefits. A payment date for this group will be announced shortly.
The third round of Economic Impact Payments will be based on the taxpayer’s latest processed tax return from either 2020 or 2019. This includes anyone who successfully registered online at IRS.gov using the agency’s Non-Filers tool last year, or alternatively, submitted a special simplified tax return to the IRS. If the IRS has received and processed a taxpayer’s 2020 return, the agency will instead make the calculation based on that return.
For those who received EIP1 or EIP2 but don’t receive a payment via direct deposit, they will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a prepaid debit card . A payment will not be added to an existing EIP card mailed for the first or second round of stimulus payments.
Wheres My Third Stimulus Check
OVERVIEW
The American Rescue Plan, a new COVID relief bill, includes a third round of stimulus payments for millions of Americans. Get updated on the latest information as it evolves.
For information on the third coronavirus relief package, please visit our American Rescue Plan: What Does it Mean for You and a Third Stimulus Check blog post.
A third round of stimulus checks is on the way for millions.
The American Rescue Plan, a new COVID relief bill, was signed into law on March 11, 2021. The bill includes a third round of stimulus payments for millions of Americans. We know these funds are important to you, and we are here to help.
If you are eligible, you could get up to $1,400 in stimulus checks for each taxpayer in your family plus an additional $1,400 per dependent. This means a family with two children could receive $5,600.
The IRS began issuing the first batch of stimulus payments, and they could arrive as early as this weekend , with more arriving over the coming week. Further batches of payments will arrive during the following weeks. If youre eligible, check the status of your stimulus payment and the way itll be sent to you by going to the IRS Get My Payment Tool, which will be live on March 15th.
To find out if you are eligible and how much you can expect, visit our stimulus calculator.
Also Check: 2nd Stimulus Check Release Date