Updated August 5, 2020
Summary
- If you have not yet received your payment, you can check on the status of your Economic Impact Payment on the IRS’s online tool, Get My Payment.
- The IRS began depositing stimulus payments to consumers the week of April 13.
- It’s not too late to receive your first stimulus check. You have until October 15th.
Have you still not received your first stimulus check? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began depositing stimulus payments for millions of Americans the week of April 13. If you have not yet received your payment and believe you are eligible, it’s not too late. You have until October 15th to get your check.
If you are still waiting, here are some steps you can take once you check on the status of your Economic Impact Payment on the IRS online tool, “Get My Payment.”
Adding direct deposit information
If your “Get My Payment” results show “Need more information”, it means you may be eligible for an Economic Impact Payment (“EIP”), but the IRS does not have your direct deposit information to send your payment electronically. You will then have the opportunity to add your bank account information for direct deposit. If you choose not to provide your bank information or prefer to receive your EIP by mail, your payment will be sent to the address the IRS has on file for you.
Changing bank account information
If your “Get My Payment” results indicate your payment is pending or has been processed, you cannot change your bank account information.
According to the IRS, “Get My Payment” cannot update direct deposit bank account information after an EIP has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow you to change your direct deposit bank account information already on file with the IRS.
However, if you did not use direct deposit for your last tax return to receive a refund, or your direct deposit information was inaccurate and resulted in a refund check, you will be able to provide that information through this portal to speed up your payment with a deposit into your bank account.
If you get your refund or federal payments on a debit card
Did you accidentally throw your debit card away? Some may have mistakenly thrown out the card thinking it was junk mail since it arrived in a plain envelope. If you believe you may have tossed it in the trash, click here for the Economic Impact Payment Card website. This page will tell you how to replace your card.
The IRS has stated that if you receive benefit payments through Direct Express, you can expect to see your stimulus payment in the same fashion. If you use the Emerald Card, click here for more information. If you use a NetSpend Card, NetSpend says “The IRS plans to deposit your Economic Impact Payment into the same account you would normally receive your federal benefits.”
If you don’t file taxes
On April 10, the IRS announced the release of an online tax return tool that non-filers can use to help receive their stimulus checks faster. If you are concerned about getting your payment because you do not file taxes, please visit the IRS site. You only need to complete the form if you have NOT already filed either a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
For more information about the “Get My Payment” portal and stimulus payments, visit the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on as financial advice.
