How To Track Down Your Tax Refund As The Average Household Gets $2900 Back
It added: If individuals didn’t receive a payment or if they didn’t receive the full amounts they may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return.
The agency urged people to file and complete an accurate tax return for 2020 in order to know whether you are eligible or not.
The government office said eligibility for and the amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit are based on 2020 tax year information while the Economic Impact Payments were based on 2019 tax year information.
How Much Does The Third Stimulus Check Pay
The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan includes a third round of $1,400 stimulus payments, topping off the $600 checks that were , and adding up to $2,000.
Congress passed the coronavirus relief plan with targeted income limits for maximum stimulus payments to individual taxpayers earning under $75,000 and joint filers making up to $150,000. But whereas the first and second rounds of stimulus payments phased out checks on a sliding scale of $5 for every $100 over the income limit, the new plan cuts off high earners at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples.
Eligibility for the third stimulus checks is based on your tax filing status. For more information on who qualifies for a third stimulus check, our tables below will help you calculate different payment options.
Who Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By Their Stimulus Checks
Many families will collect more money this time to use however they like, whether for essentials like rent or groceries, or to spend on other needs like affordable life insurance to provide financial protection for family members.
For the first time, households will get payouts for older dependents, including high school and college students over the age of 16. They’ll earn you another $1,400 each. The same goes for disabled adult and elderly dependents.
And, qualifying parents will receive the full $1,400 for their young children. Last year’s very first stimulus checks offered just $500 each for little ones.
Here’s another reason you may be pleased with the new payments: The IRS bases your eligibility for stimulus checks on your most recent income tax return. If you were previously a high earner but your income dropped enough in 2020 to make you eligible for some cash, you can get it.
If youve already filed your taxes, or if you hustle to get your return in ASAP, the IRS will be able to use the reduced income from your 2020 tax return to give you a full or partial payment.
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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.
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.
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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.
You Haven’t Filed Your 2019 Or 2020 Tax Returns
Many people probably haven’t filed their 2020 tax returns yet, given that the deadline for getting in your tax forms is April 15. In that case, there’s no reason to worry the IRS will use your 2019 tax return to determine how much you should receive.
But this becomes trickier for people who aren’t required to file tax returns, such as those with no or very little earnings, which can be the case for some people on Social Security.
That became an issue with the first round of stimulus checks, especially since many of these people were in deepest need of the first round’s $1,200 payments and it wasn’t an insignificant number. The IRS said it distributed more than 22 million stimulus payments last year that weren’t based on filed tax returns.
Because of that issue, the IRS last year created a website specifically for non-filers, where they could provide their bank account information or addresses to the agency, as well as provide their number of dependents, who were each eligible for $500 in stimulus aid at the time.
But the non-filers website has been closed since late last year, and IRS and Treasury officials said on a March 12 conference call with reporters that they are urging non-filers to file a 2020 tax return to ensure they get all the payments and tax credits they are owed.
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If I Owe Back Child Support Will I Still Get A Payment
Yes. If you or your spouse owes back child support, your stimulus payment cannot be garnished to pay that debt. The same is true if you owe federal or state debts: your stimulus payment cannot be garnished. Your payment wont be levied by the IRS, either.
Although the second and third stimulus payments cant be garnished for unpaid child support, the amounts can be garnished if you dont get money up front and need to claim the credits on your taxes.
Tracking Your Third Stimulus Check
The IRS fired up the popular again so that you can track the status of your third stimulus check. The online tool lets you:
- Check the status of your stimulus payment
- Confirm your payment type and
- Get a projected direct deposit or paper check delivery date .
For more information about the tool, see .
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Irs Get My Payment: How To Use The Online Tracker Tool
To get an update on your third stimulus check using Get My Payment, 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. You can see things like whether your money was sent or is scheduled to be sent, the payment method and the date your stimulus money was issued. The tool may also say it can’t yet determine your status — see more below about error messages.
I Got A Stimulus Payment For Someone Who Has Died What Should I Do
Someone who has died after Jan. 1, 2021 may be issued a check. If you receive that payment by check and you are the spouse or guardian of the deceased person, you can keep it.
If you cant deposit or cash the check because it was made out to your deceased spouse, you can return it to the IRS. You should include a letter requesting the third payment be made in your name only as the surviving spouse. If you got an EIP card for your deceased spouse and cant access the funds, contact Money Network, the card issuer.
Stimulus payments wont be processed for anyone who died prior to Jan. 1, 2021.
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What’s Holding Up New Stimulus Checks
Chief among the issues are whether Republican lawmakers would support the package. But with GOP support so far failing to materialize, Democrats are pushing forward with the budget reconciliation process, which would next direct House and Senate committees to discuss spending priorities.
“When Congress colors in the details of the stimulus package, investors should expect some deviation from the original Biden plan, as even a Congress closely in sync with the president will look to put their own imprint on the bill,” Hammond wrote in a February 2 research note.
The plan to provide more direct aid to low- and middle-class households could help lift GDP by 0.7%, although other measures in the bill such as a higher minimum wage and aid to states could boost GDP growth by 1.5%, according to a January 18 report from Oxford Economics Chief U.S. Economist Gregory Daco. He’s predicting a $1.3 trillion stimulus package will be approved before the end of March.
“The additional stimulus will be welcome given the extent of labor market damage, with still 10 million fewer jobs than before the pandemic,” he and Oxford Economics lead U.S. economist Lydia Boussour wrote on January 22.
Here’s what analysts are predicting about the $1,400 checks and other spending proposals.
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.
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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.
Im On Social Security And Havent Gotten My Payment Yet Why
The first batch of payments to Social Security recipientsmore than 19 million payments made to beneficiaries who didnt file 2019 or 2020 tax returns and did not use the non-filers tool last yearwent out on April 7.
Payments were delayed while Social Security and the IRS worked out the details of transferring beneficiary data to the IRS, which is handling payment processing.
If you used the non-filers tool to get a stimulus payment in 2020, your payment may have already been issued.
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Who Qualifies For The Third Stimulus Check
Millions of Americans who were eligible for the $600 second stimulus checks could qualify for the third round of stimulus payments up to $1,400. However, many high-earning taxpayers who were eligible for previous stimulus checks are now excluded. The plan narrows income eligibility to exclude individuals earning over $80,000 and couples making over $160,000:
- Singles phase out at AGIs between $75,000 and $80,000.
- Heads of household phase out at AGIs between $112,500 and 120,000.
- Couples phase out at AGIs between $150,000 and $160,000.
Keep in mind that this is different from the sliding scale that was used to determine eligibility for previous stimulus payments. The IRS reduced second stimulus checks by 5% for the total amount made over the AGI limit. This means that payments went down by $5 for every $100 over the limit.
The table below breaks down third stimulus payments based on narrower income ranges for singles and joint tax filers:
$1,400 Stimulus Checks With Narrower Income Ranges |
Single AGI |
$174,000 and up | $0 |
If you want to get a specific breakdown, SmartAssets third stimulus check calculator will give you an estimate based on your filing status, AGI and dependents.
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.
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Looking Out For Direct Payments In The Mail
Payment sent through the mail will come in the form of either a paper check or a debit card, the latter of which is intended to speed up the delivery to people. As the IRS noted, the form of payment may differ from the previous two rounds of stimulus checks.
The debit card, known as the Economic Impact Payment Card, will have the Visa name on the front and MetaBank, N.A. on the back. It will come in a white envelope with the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal prominently displayed. More information can be found at EIPcard.com.
Third Stimulus Check: When Could You Get A $1400 Check
President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan proposes a third round of stimulus checks of $1,400 for most Americans. Yet while that could extend a helping hand to millions of households still suffering from the pandemic’s economic fallout, it could be weeks until the payments arrive, analysts say.
The price tag for the relief package, called the American Rescue Plan, faces pushback from some Republican lawmakers, who last year resisted Democratic efforts to pass a $2 trillion bill. Heights Securities analyst Hunter Hammond expects a final package could be passed in the first quarter and range from $1.5 to $2.2 trillion.
On February 1, a group of 10 Republican lawmakers unveiled an alternative stimulus plan that would scale back the checks to $1,000 per adult and lower the income cap for receiving payment. That plan would cut the cost of a third stimulus check to $220 billion, compared with $600 billion under Mr. Biden’s more generous package.
“Congress is pushing forward on a Democrat-only $1.9 trillion stimulus package in an attempt to strike while the iron is hot, and we expect this effort to succeed,” noted Hunter Hammond, an analyst with Heights Securities, in a February 5 research note.
Mr. Biden has expressed a willingness to negotiate, with the president saying he would insist on $1,400 checks but suggesting he was open to targeting the checks to people who need the most help.
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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.
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.
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