As promised, the Internal Revenue Service has rebooted its Get My Payment tool, so as of today, taxpayers can check the status of the $1,400 stimulus payments (Round 3) that are part of the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package President Joe Biden signed into law last Thursday. That doesn’t mean you’ll get the answer you’re looking for: Money in your bank account right away.
The IRS started delivering stimulus payments to taxpayers via direct deposit on Saturday, but it’s a long process, with 158.5 million households expected to qualify for the automatic payments. In a speech today on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan, President Biden said that the goal is to get 100 million checks in people’ pockets in the next 10 days.
To check the status of your payment on the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website, you’ll need to enter your social security number, date of birth, street address and zip code. Once you’re verified, the tool will spit out one of three messages.
Payment status: If your payment has been processed, it will show a payment date and whether your payment will come by direct deposit or mail (if it’s by mail, it could come as an economic impact payment debit card or check).
Payment status not available: This could mean that the IRS hasn’t processed your payment yet. Or you aren’t eligible. The income limits to qualify were lowered this round: Single taxpayers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 and married taxpayers filing jointly with adjusted gross income up to $150,000 get a full $1,400 (you get a partial payment with income up to $80,000/$160,000). Another change: This time around dependents can get the full $1,400 payments too. A married couple filing jointly with two dependents would get $5,600—that’s on top of Round 1 (CARES Act) payments and Round 2 (year-end 2020 Covid-relief package) payments.
Need more information: That means your payment was returned to the IRS by the U.S. Postal Service. The easiest way to update your address with the IRS is to e-file a 2020 tax return. Then set up direct deposit with Get My Payment. You can choose direct deposit to a bank account, a prepaid reloadable debit card.
The IRS has a Get My Payment Q&A sheet that answers more questions, such as what to do if you get locked out (try again 24 hours later). The agency also has a fact sheet about Round 3 stimulus payments.
If you’re looking for information about your Round 1 and Round 2 payments, which you’ll need for filing your 2020 tax return, you’ll need to open an IRS online account.
Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool to check on the status of your tax refund.
Note these tools are updated once a day, so there’s no use to keep checking.
Further reading: Rich Retirees Get Tax Time Surprise: 3 Stimulus Payments