How to Track Your Stimulus Check
The federal government has begun depositing the first economic stimulus checks into eligible taxpayers’ bank accounts. Those who have direct deposit set up with the Internal Revenue Service will be the first to receive payments of up to $1,200.
According to the IRS, most people do not need to take any action. If you’ve already filed your 2018 and 2019 taxes and have direct deposit with the IRS, your stimulus payment will be automatically deposited into your bank account.
How do you know whether you have direct deposit with the IRS?
If you received your 2018 or 2019 tax refund via direct deposit with the IRS, your payment will be automatically deposited to your bank account.
If you haven’t authorized direct deposit with the IRS, a paper check could take a few weeks to a few months to arrive in the mail. However, you may be able to update your bank information using the Get My Payment web portal to receive your stimulus check faster. Jump ahead to How to Get Your Stimulus Check Faster for more details.
How to Track Your Stimulus Check Online
On the IRS website, use the Get My Payment tool to check the status of your stimulus check.
- Click the blue ‘Get My Payment’ button. On the following page about authorized use, click ‘OK.’
- When prompted, enter your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN), date of birth, street address, and zip code. Click ‘Continue.’
- View your Payment Status, which explains whether the payment has been scheduled or if its status cannot yet be determined.
Note: The Get My Payment portal will not be available if a paper check has already been scheduled.
The IRS will send a letter to a taxpayer’s last known address within 15 days of sending the payment. The letter will contain details on when the payment was made and how to contact the IRS if you didn’t receive your payment.
How to Get Your Stimulus Check Faster
Payments will first be sent to those who have direct deposit with the IRS. If you don’t have direct deposit with the IRS and you’re a taxpayer, you can use the Get My Payment tool to update your bank account information to receive payments electronically. You will need to submit the following information:
- Your adjusted gross income from your most recent tax return
- The refund or amount owed that year
- Bank routing numbers
Please note that you won’t be able to update your bank information once payment has been scheduled for delivery, nor will you be allowed to update bank information that’s already on file.
How to Get Your Stimulus Check Faster If You Don’t Have a Bank Account
Don’t have a traditional bank account but do use a mobile money app, such as Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or PayPal? You can update your information through the IRS portal to include the routing and account numbers for your preferred mobile money app account.
For example, Cash App offers routing and account numbers that you can use to deposit your stimulus payment right to your Cash App account. For more detailed instructions, click here.
Again, please note that you won’t be able to update your direct deposit information with the IRS if the payment has already been scheduled for delivery, nor will you be able to update direct deposit information that’s already on file with the IRS.
What to Do If You Haven’t Filed a Tax Return
You can still receive your stimulus payment if you are not required to file a tax return. The IRS created a tool for non-filers that requires you to input basic information, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, etc. It doesn’t ask for any income information.
If you’re required to file 2019 taxes and haven’t, the deadline has been pushed from April 15 to July 15. The three-month extension is automatically available to all federal taxpayers.
Stimulus Check Eligibility: What You Need to Know
In order to receive a payment, you may need to have filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019. If you have not yet filed taxes for 2019, an automatic tax extension has been issued until July.
If you haven’t been required to file a return during the past two years, you may have to submit additional information before receiving the payment.
Senior citizens, Social Security recipients, railroad retirees, and other beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns do not need to file a return to receive a payment. Social Security recipients will automatically receive their payments, even if they haven’t filed a tax return.
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